The political legacy of America's most famous political dynasty continues as Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, has officially entered the race for Congress in New York's 12th district.
A Political Legacy Continues
According to newly released data from prediction market site Kalshi, the 32-year-old Democrat has a 30 percent chance of securing the congressional seat being vacated by retiring 78-year-old Jerrold Nadler. The veteran Democrat is stepping down after more than three decades in office, creating an opening in one of New York's oldest and wealthiest districts.
Schlossberg announced his candidacy on Tuesday night, joining a crowded field that includes New York State Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who currently leads predictions with a 71 percent chance of victory, and Alex Bores with 10 percent. The district has also attracted two state assembly members, a city council member, and 26-year-old nonprofit founder Liam Elkin.
Family Concerns and Political Danger
Not everyone is celebrating Schlossberg's political ambitions. Sources close to the family reveal that his mother, Caroline Kennedy, has repeatedly pleaded with her son not to run for office. The daughter of the 35th president fears for her son's safety in what she describes as an increasingly dangerous political environment.
"Caroline has pleaded with Jack not to run, but he seems determined to follow in the political footsteps of his grandfather and generations of other Kennedys who have held political office," an insider told the New York Post. Another source confirmed that Schlossberg's decision "has seriously frightened" his mother, who believes "the political world has become too dangerous, too frightening, too crazy."
Adding to Caroline Kennedy's concerns is the potential for antisemitism targeting her son. Her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, is Jewish, making this an additional worry weighing heavily on the former ambassador to Japan.
Social Media Strategy and Controversy
Schlossberg, known for his unconventional social media presence, sees his digital savvy as key to breaking through the crowded field. In an interview with The New York Times, he addressed critics who call him "crazy" for his online behaviour, which has included challenging his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr to a fight and implying he was having a baby with Second Lady Usha Vance.
"Since I started making videos, people have been calling me crazy, but there's been a strategy and method to what I've been doing," Schlossberg told the Times. He argued that Democrats "need to specifically elect people who both get policy and know how to break through in new media, because it's a toxic, polluted ecosystem, thanks to the president."
The young Kennedy heir has been particularly vocal in his criticism of RFK Jr, accusing his cousin of "trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame" during his failed presidential run. The feud escalated on social media, with Schlossberg taunting Kennedy about his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and even appearing to mock his cousin's spasmodic dysphonia - a neurological disorder affecting speech.
Despite temporarily deleting his social media accounts after receiving backlash for targeting lawyer Alan Dershowitz, Schlossberg returned after approximately one month with another controversial video directed at Hines.
Political Experience and Vision
Behind the social media controversy lies substantial political experience. Schlossberg graduated from Yale and holds masters and law degrees from Harvard. He has worked in both the State Department and Congress, regularly assisted his mother with Kennedy Foundation duties, and accompanied her on diplomatic trips to Japan and Australia.
His political journalism credentials include serving as a correspondent for Vogue during the 2024 presidential election, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently appointed him to the America 250 Commission.
Schlossberg sees his grandfather and Uncle Ted Kennedy, who served nearly 50 years as a senator, as role models. He told the Times that when he "closes his eyes and thinks of what a Democrat is, it's someone who's challenging the status quo, who represents counterculture, artists, innovators."
Despite her concerns, Caroline Kennedy acknowledged to the Times that her son has "identified a weakness in the Democratic Party's strategy" and expressed being "impressed that he thought through the different ways of doing that and is willing to take the consequences when he takes a risk that people find offensive."
The election for New York's 12th congressional district is scheduled for June 2026, setting the stage for another potential Kennedy to enter American political life, despite the family's tragic history and contemporary concerns about political violence.
