Micah Lasher (D) defeated Alex Bores (D), George Conway (D), Jack Schlossberg (D), and four other candidates in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23, 2026. As of April 2026, Bores, Conway, Lasher, and Schlossberg led in polling, fundraising, and local media attention.
Incumbent Jerrold Nadler (D), first elected in 1992, did not seek re-election. Nadler endorsed Lasher on February 9, 2026. The Washington Examiner's Ron Kampeas said, "many of the candidates are leaning into personal stories that help them stand out in a field where there is broad agreement on making New York affordable and stopping Trump’s excesses."
Lasher was elected to the New York Assembly in 2024. Lasher earlier worked as a staffer to Nadler, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). City & State New York's Peter Sterne said Lasher was "widely seen as the heir apparent to retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler." Lasher ran on his professional experience. Lasher's campaign website said he had "played a key role in passing landmark laws to strengthen gun control, protect abortion access, and raise the minimum wage."
Bores was elected to the New York Assembly in 2022. Bores earlier worked in the software industry as an engineer and manager. Bores said he was "the first Democrat elected in New York State at any level with a degree in computer science." Bores supported regulations he said would limit the artificial intelligence industry. Bores said in a statement that "these AI Goliaths want to take over our safety, our workforce, and our kids’ minds for their own personal profit and power."
Conway was, as of the 2026 elections, an attorney and the co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a group opposed to President Donald Trump's (R) policy agenda. Conway said he had spent six years "[using] his skills and network to expose Trump’s lies, corruption, and lawlessness in the media and in the courts." In a campaign ad, Conway said, "I'm running for Congress to take the fight directly back to him on your behalf...This is no ordinary time and I will not be an ordinary member of Congress."
Schlossberg was, as of the 2026 elections, a writer and social media personality who earlier worked at Rakuten and in the U.S. Department of State. Schlossberg was the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy (D). Vanity Fair's Eric Lutz said Schlossberg was "[pitching] himself as something of a bridge between Democrats and a toxic social media environment that has been dominated by Republicans." Schlossberg's campaign website said he was "focused on rooting out corruption, defending civil rights and personal freedoms, making housing affordable, protecting public health, and rebuilding trust in government."
Also running in the primary were Christopher Diep (D), Laura Dunn (D), Nina Schwalbe (D), and Patrick Timmins (D).
As of June 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic. In 2024, Nadler defeated Mike Zumbluskas (R) 80%–19%.
