NEW YORK — Voters in Manhattan's 12th Congressional District will get their first major chance to compare the candidates vying to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler when they square off Thursday night in a televised debate on PIX11.
The race, which marks the district's first open-seat contest in more than three decades, has drawn a sprawling field of nine candidates, including five contenders who have gained significant traction: state Assemblymember Alex Bores, lawyer and conservative commentator George Conway, former state official Micah Lasher, and Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of President John F. Kennedy. Also on the ballot are Christopher Diep, Laura Dunn, Nina Schwalbe, Mathew Shurka, and Patrick Timmins.
Recent polling shows Lasher leading with 22 percent support, closely followed by Bores at 20 percent. Schlossberg sits at 11 percent, and Conway at 10 percent, in what remains a fluid race with many voters still undecided. The primary election is scheduled for June 23, with early voting beginning June 13.
The debate, airing at 7 p.m. EDT on PIX11 News, PIX11.com, and the PIX11+ app, will be followed by a live analysis show where political insiders will assess who prevailed. The contest is unfolding in the home district of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has so far declined to endorse any candidate.
The NY-12 district covers much of Manhattan, including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Midtown, making it one of the most politically engaged and high-profile districts in the country. The open seat has attracted candidates with diverse backgrounds and policy priorities, from housing and transit to national security and economic inequality.
Bores, a tech entrepreneur and state legislator, has emphasized his work on technology policy and government efficiency. Lasher, a former top aide to Governor Kathy Hochul, has focused on affordable housing and public safety. Conway, best known for his legal battles against Donald Trump, has positioned himself as a centrist independent voice. Schlossberg, a lawyer and environmental advocate, has leaned into his family's legacy and clean energy platform.
The race has also drawn attention to broader national issues, including debates over healthcare, immigration, and the role of money in politics. For context, a recent report alleging improper ObamaCare enrollments has fueled fraud concerns that some candidates have seized upon in their campaigns, while the ongoing debate over transgender sports participation and Title IX has also become a flashpoint in the district.
With early voting just weeks away, Thursday's debate represents a crucial opportunity for the candidates to break through in a crowded field. The outcome of the primary will likely determine the next representative for a district that has been held by Democrats for decades.
