Republican candidate enters race to replace Jerry Nadler

A Republican candidate who attended school with Jack Schlossberg, a member of the Kennedy family, is vying to replace longtime Congressman Jerry Nadler in Manhattan’s highly populated Congressional District.

Caroline Shinkle, a corporate lawyer educated at MIT and Harvard Law School, is stepping into an already crowded field of Democratic contenders, including Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy and son of Caroline Kennedy.

“I’m committed to providing voters with a genuine choice,” Shinkle, 33, shared. “We’re working hard to protect Manhattan and New York City.”

This district, extending from the East Side to the West Side of Manhattan and encompassing landmarks like Times Square and Museum Mile, presents a challenging environment for Republican candidates.

Still, Shinkle believes she represents a vital alternative as the Democratic Party shifts further left.

“While others get caught up in ‘The Resistance,’ I’m all about results,” she explained. “Whether it’s managing border security to address the illegal immigration issue that’s stressing our city’s resources or changing decriminalization policies that allow repeat offenders to thrive, I aim to bring the analytical skills of an economist along with the resolve of a lawyer to Washington.”

She pointed out that New York is in a “crisis of capacity,” referring to the leadership of the city’s new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, who aligns with democratic socialist ideals.

“Our mayor is focused on extreme ideologies, and it feels like our Congressional representatives are more interested in blocking progress than actually delivering results,” Shinkle remarked. “I’m positioning myself as a common-sense response to the policies that make our streets less safe and housing unaffordable for working people.”

Leaders of the Manhattan Republican Party are expected to endorse Shinkle soon, and Jerry Kassar, head of the state Conservative Party, indicated his party’s support as well.

While five other Republicans have submitted paperwork to participate in the election, it’s uncertain if they’ve formally declared their candidacies.

Shinkle isn’t shy about proposing bold changes; she’s calling for the elimination of the federal income tax, suggesting that “government needs to be smaller.”

She also advocates for tax exemptions on student loan repayments.

Having spent time studying at MIT while working at the Bank of Israel in Jerusalem, Shinkle has made her support for Israel clear—particularly significant in a political climate where many in the Democratic Party face criticism for their stance on the country.

“I refuse to just stand by as our city deteriorates,” she asserted.

Apart from Schlossberg, other Democratic candidates include state Rep. Micah Lasher, who emerges as a major contender and has secured backing from various local Democratic groups and key political figures, including Nadler, who has announced his decision not to seek re-election.

Other announced candidates include East Side Rep. Alex Boaz, George Conway, Jami Floyd, Patrick Timmons, Laura Dunn, Alan Purdy, and LGBT activist Matthew Shulka.