Chelsea Clinton is reportedly considering a run for Rep. Jerry Nadler’s Manhattan congressional seat after the elderly Democratic leader announced his retirement.
If you thought Nadler and the Democratic Party establishment was bad, it may be about to change for the worse… and Chelsea isn’t alone.
Former President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, is also eyeing a run — setting up a potential clash between two of America’s most powerful Democratic Party dynasties.
Clinton’s spokesperson denied reports Tuesday that she was weighing a bid for the seat.
“There’s no truth to this,” the spokesman told The Washington Examiner after news reports emerged about Clinton considering the race.
But other sources suggested Clinton remains deeply interested in the Manhattan district that includes the wealthy Upper West and Upper East sides.
“She’s probably got a shot if she wants it,” a New York political insider told The Daily Mail.
Schlossberg, 32, the grandson of JFK, confirmed it was “certainly a possibility” he would run for Nadler’s seat. The Yale and Harvard graduate has never held public office but has risen to fame as a social media star and political commentator.
The son of former diplomat Caroline Kennedy hosts a YouTube political commentary show from inside his van and served as a Vogue political correspondent during the 2024 election. He regularly criticizes his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now serves as President Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary.
Nadler, 78, announced his retirement Monday after 34 years in Congress, citing the need for “generational change” in the Democratic Party.
“Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that,” Nadler said.
The Manhattan seat is considered one of the most coveted congressional districts in New York.
“It’s the most coveted and arguably important congressional seat in New York because of the history of political influence from that seat, and also the fundraising base that comes with it,” Democratic strategist Evan Thies told Politico.
Clinton, 44, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has been rumored as a potential candidate whenever New York Democrats step down from office. She was previously mentioned for a congressional run in 2020 when Rep. Nita Lowey retired.
In 2019, Clinton said she was not interested in running for office at that time — but hinted at future ambitions.
“Maybe,” she said six years ago. “But not now.” She acknowledged that “someone has asked me some version of this question for literally as long as I can remember.”
The race has already attracted one official candidate. Liam Elkind, a 26-year-old far-Left activist, launched a primary challenge over the summer and called on Nadler to retire.
Other Democrats considering the race include assemblymember Micah Lasher, a former Nadler aide; former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan; investor Whitney Tilson; actress and activist Cynthia Nixon; and attorney Tali Farhadian.
The Democratic establishment’s concern about losing the seat to a socialist candidate reflects broader changes in New York politics. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani recently won the party primary for New York City mayor, part of what observers see as an ongoing takeover of the party by younger, more liberal candidates.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 23, 2026. The winner will almost certainly win the general election in the heavily Democratic district.
A Clinton versus Schlossberg matchup would pit two of the most recognizable names in Democratic politics fighting to win the “crown jewel” of New York politics. Both represent political dynasties that have shaped American politics for decades.