Lasher Wins Primary to Succeed Nadler
Democratic Representative from New York, Mika Lasher, has emerged victorious in the primary race to replace Jerry Nadler. She defeated notable figures like George Conway, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, and Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy.
Schlossberg and Conway struggled to leverage their political ties and media visibility in the contest for New York’s 12th District. In a closely contested race, Lasher edged out Democratic Rep. Alex Boaz, who campaigned on topics like regulating artificial intelligence. As reported by NBC News, Boaz had previously worked at Palantir.
Lasher gained endorsements from influential figures, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and ex-Governor David Paterson. Her platform emphasizes combating Trumpism, supporting transgender rights, and addressing climate change.
The candidates faced off in an intense debate last Thursday. Lasher accused Boaz of receiving funds from major tech companies to bolster his campaign, a claim which Boaz vehemently denied, asserting that he authored the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, one of the strictest AI safety laws in the nation.
“This race began with AI megadonors willing to spend $10 million to oppose me. They fear the laws I’ve pushed for AI security,” Boaz stated, highlighting the broad coalition of support he has gathered from educators and tech workers alike for AI regulation.
Several labor unions backed Boaz, including the New York Nurses Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Schlossberg claimed that Boaz’s AI proposals would, ironically, be beneficial for tech companies.
During the debate, Lasher brought up Schlossberg’s entry into politics, suggesting it stemmed from nepotism, a point Schlossberg rejected. “I’ve built my path through nearly two decades of public service,” Lasher explained, while Schlossberg insisted he earned his position independently.
Looking ahead to November 2025, Schlossberg has support from figures like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and his mother, Caroline Kennedy. His campaign agenda includes protecting abortion rights, allowing Medicaid at Planned Parenthood, and expanding transgender medical procedures.
Interestingly, Schlossberg has stirred attention with some odd social media posts, such as claiming that Usha Vance is “much hotter” than Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
On the other hand, Conway, known for his anti-Trump stance, has engaged in various activism efforts. He was recently spotted at a rally wearing an “I am Antifa” shirt and has expressed his views through both legal advocacy and music, even referencing his own legal troubles amusingly in song form.
Having recently relocated to Manhattan and switched to the Democratic Party to run for office, Conway appeals mostly to older voters. Meanwhile, support for candidates like Rusher and Boaz spans a wider age demographic.
For context, Nadler was a key opposition figure to Trump in Congress, having spearheaded impeachment efforts and critical investigations into Trump’s dealings related to the 2016 election.
