Kennedy Grandson, With 1.7 Million Followers, Runs for New York House Seat

Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, is entering the political arena with a run for a House seat in New York. Schlossberg, who has 1.7 million followers on social media, has declared his ambition to become a politician representing a 'new generation.' He plans to run in New York's 12th congressional district in the 2026 midterm elections. Major foreign outlets, including CNN, reported on Jack Schlossberg's candidacy on November 12. The New York 12th district seat is opening up due to the retirement of Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler. Schlossberg is the youngest son of Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg. The 32-year-old hinted at a potential foray into politics last September, shortly after Nadler's announcement that he would not seek reelection, by posting on social media. He has consistently expressed his political views through social media. Besides Schlossberg, several other figures have announced their candidacy for the Democratic primary in New York's 12th congressional district. Notable competitors include New York State Assembly Member Micah Lasher and Liam Elkind. They are expected to engage in fierce competition, each leveraging their respective bases of support. In his candidacy announcement video, Schlossberg emphasized that he was born and raised in New York, appealing to local voters with familiarity. He stressed that he is the right person to represent the voices of New Yorkers.

In an interview with CNN, Schlossberg introduced himself as a "Democrat representing a new generation," appealing to the support of young people. He promised to tackle issues with a fresh perspective, different from that of established politicians. The New York Times (NYT) reported that Schlossberg's Instagram and TikTok follower count reaches 1.7 million, highlighting his social media influence. Attention is focused on how his high popularity, particularly among young people, will impact the election. Schlossberg is actively communicating with supporters through social media, sharing his policy visions. He is striving to gain the sympathy of voters by expressing his positions on various fields such as environmental issues, social justice, and resolving economic inequality. Jerry Nadler has long represented New York's 12th congressional district, and his retirement is expected to bring significant changes to local politics. Several candidates, including Schlossberg, are expected to compete to absorb Nadler's support base. This election is also seen as an important test of generational change within the Democratic Party. Attention is focused on how the challenge of young political newcomers like Schlossberg will affect existing political forces. Schlossberg is entering politics with the halo effect of the Kennedy family, but he must earn the trust of voters through his abilities and vision. He will need to demonstrate his competitiveness through various activities in the future, including policy announcements, participation in debates, and direct communication with voters. The 2026 midterm elections are expected to be important elections that will determine the direction of American politics. Many people are focusing on what the outcome of Schlossberg's challenge will be.