Rep. Jerry Nadler's Protégé Launches Campaign To Succeed Him In Congress

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — On Monday morning, Assemblymember Micah Lasher launched a campaign to succeed Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who is stepping down at the end of his term after more than 30 years.

When 78-year-old Nadler said he would leave his deep blue District 12 seat wide open for the 2026 midterms to "pass the torch to a new generation," rumors swirled that Lasher, his 43-year-old protégé, was being primed to replace him.

On Monday morning, in a video, Lasher confirmed he'd be running for the seat, joining what's expected to be a crowded primary race to represent the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Midtown, Hell's Kitchen, Central Park, Union Square, Chelsea, and Stuy-Town.

Another candidate, Chelsea-based Rhodes scholar Liam Elkind, has already announced his run for the seat. In July, he said he was calling on Nadler to step down due to his age to make room for the new generation, CNN reported.

Other potential challengers for the NY-12 seat could be City Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who represents SoHo, West Village, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Union Square and parts of Midtown, and Assemblymember Alex Bores, who represents Murray Hill, Midtown East, and the Upper East Side. Both have started making calls to supporters, City & State reported.

In Lasher's video on Monday, he said his policy platform would include raising the minimum wage and repealing tax breaks for the rich.

"We Democrats need our own project 2026 that spells out what we're going to do and how we'll improve people's lives," Lasher said in the video.

"Here's mine: Repeal Trump's tax breaks for the rich, pass Medicare for all, raise the minimum wage, massively expand child care, replace the crazy tariffs with policies that protect American workers."

In Manhattan, Lasher said he'd focus on improving public transportation and the housing market.

"Locally, I'll focus on crime and quality of life and strengthening public transportation and addressing the housing crisis with more investment and fewer barriers to housing that working families can actually afford," Lasher said.

Lasher, an Upper West Sider, represents parts of the Upper West Side, Central Park, and Morningside Heights in Assembly District 69.

Lasher is known for his previous work as the director of policy for Governor Kathy Hochul, the director of state legislative affairs under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and as an aide to Nadler.

An endorsement from Nadler would go a long way, but so far, Nadler has not yet made an endorsement in the primary race.

The general election for NY-12 is on Nov. 3, 2026.

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