Jack Schlossberg, a 32-year-old Kennedy scion with a knack for viral social media antics, is already stumbling in his freshly minted bid for Congress in New York City’s ritziest district.
Just weeks after tossing his hat into the ring for the 12th congressional district seat, vacated by the retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler after 34 years, Schlossberg’s campaign is reeling from the sudden exit of his campaign manager, Annabel Lassally, while facing a packed field of seasoned competitors, as the Daily Mail reports.
Last month, Schlossberg declared his intent to replace Nadler, one of the Democrat caucus’s most tenured members at 78 years old, in a district known for its wealth and history.
Lassally’s departure, confirmed to Politico on Thursday, raises eyebrows, though the reasons remain murky. It's hardly the start a newcomer needs in a race this crowded.
Schlossberg isn’t backing down, though, with key staff like finance director Paige Phillips and aide Eli Hinerfeld still on board, signaling he’s got some fight left in him.
Yet, the field he’s up against -- two state assembly members, a city council member, and even Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky -- makes this an uphill battle for a political novice, no matter how famous the family name.
Schlossberg’s social media presence, often more spectacle than substance, has been a double-edged sword, with past posts targeting cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other public figures in ways that veer from witty to downright reckless.
From challenging RFK Jr. to bizarre confrontations over conspiracy theories to mocking personal conditions, Schlossberg’s online history -- despite a brief deletion and return -- could alienate voters who crave decorum over drama.
“I think that this district needs somebody who knows how to fight effectively in this new political era that we're living in,” Schlossberg told the New York Times on Nov. 11, positioning himself as a fresh voice.
But let’s unpack that. While Schlossberg claims to be a modern fighter, one wonders if his strategy of shock over substance will resonate in a district used to Nadler’s steady, if stodgy, hand.
His family dynamics add another layer of intrigue. His mother, Caroline Kennedy, once U.S. ambassador to Japan, reportedly urged him to steer clear of this toxic political arena, citing concerns over antisemitism tied to his father Edwin’s Jewish heritage.
“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,” an insider told the New York Post, hinting at a deeper familial rift.
Now, let’s talk numbers. Prediction market Kalshi gives Schlossberg a mere 30% shot at winning, while state Assemblyman Micah Lasher sits pretty at 71%, with another contender, Alex Bores, at 10%.
For conservatives watching this unfold, Schlossberg’s campaign feels like a microcosm of progressive chaos -- big on name recognition and social media stunts, light on the kind of grounded policy focus voters might crave after years of cultural overreach from the left.
Still, credit where it’s due. Schlossberg’s determination to carve his own path, despite early setbacks and family hesitation, shows a grit that’s hard to ignore, even if his methods raise more questions than answers in a race that’s already a political gauntlet.
