Pelosi backs JFK's grandson Jack Schlossberg in race for New York House seat
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is throwing her weight behind Jack Schlossberg, the 32-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy, in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District. The endorsement, which has been in the works for weeks, is expected to be formally announced on Sunday.
Pelosi, 85, praised Schlossberg's qualities in a statement obtained by The Post and prepared by the candidate's campaign:
"Passion for solving problems — particularly his ability to engage and inspire young people."
The New York Post reported that she also touted his "policy chops" and said his candidacy would help Democrats win nationwide. Schlossberg returned the favor, calling Pelosi "a hero" and describing her support as "a shot of adrenaline."
The seat opened up after Rep. Jerrold Nadler, 78, announced his retirement following more than three decades in Congress. The district stretches from Union Square to the Upper West Side and Upper East Side — some of the most expensive real estate in the country and some of the bluest turf in America.
The Kennedy Brand, Repackaged
Pelosi's endorsement isn't just a nod to a young candidate. It's an investment in a political bloodline she knows well. She served in Congress alongside several members of the Kennedy family — the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, and former Reps. Joe Kennedy and Joseph P. Kennedy III. This isn't a political alliance. It's a family reunion.
Schlossberg, a political commentator and the son of former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, spoke at the Democratic National Convention.
He's positioned himself as a fresh face for the party — though "fresh" is doing a lot of heavy lifting when your last name has been on Democratic ballots since before the moon landing.
He's been branded a nepo baby since launching his run in November. And honestly, when an 85-year-old former Speaker endorses you based on your "ability to engage and inspire young people," the label kind of makes the case for itself.
Schlossberg hasn't been shy about picking fights within his own family. He called his cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a "rabid dog" — a remark that drew a rebuke from the White House.
Whatever you think of RFK Jr.'s policy positions, there's something revealing about a candidate whose most notable public moment before running for office was attacking a family member who actually holds a Senate-confirmed position in the federal government.
The timing of Schlossberg's campaign has also been shadowed by personal tragedy. His sister, Tatiana Schlossberg, died in late December at age 35 from leukemia.
The Field
Schlossberg isn't running unopposed. The Democratic primary includes:
- George Conway — a former Republican and Kellyanne Conway's ex-husband, who has reinvented himself as a Democratic contender. The ideological journey from Trump White House adjacent to Manhattan Democratic primary candidate is a story in itself.
- Jami Floyd — a former journalist.
- Micah Lasher — a state assemblyman.
In a district this blue, the primary is the election. And Pelosi's endorsement is designed to end the race before it starts.
What This Really Says About the Democrats
There's a pattern here that the left never seems interested in examining. The same party that lectures America about privilege, equity, and dismantling systems of inherited power is rallying behind a Kennedy grandson endorsed by an octogenarian former Speaker. The same movement that insists meritocracy is a myth treats dynastic succession as inspiration.
Pelosi's statement was prepared by Schlossberg's campaign — a detail worth sitting with. The endorsement wasn't organic enough for the endorser to write her own words. The campaign drafted the praise, and the former Speaker signed off. That's not mentorship. That's choreography.
Democrats talk endlessly about making room for new voices. Then they clear the lane for a political heir with no legislative experience, no elected office on his résumé, and a famous last name doing all the work his "policy chops" haven't had a chance to prove.
The 12th District will get the representative it chooses. But nobody should pretend this is about youth, energy, or ideas. It's about a name — the same name it's always been about.



