Lasher, Bores in tight contest to fill Nadler Congress seat in New York Democratic primary election

Voters in New York's 12th Congressional District, a highly coveted seat previously held by longtime Jewish member Rep. Jerry Nadler, are choosing their next representative in a tight Democratic primary. The district spans Manhattan's Upper West and Upper East Sides, along with midtown Manhattan.

The frontrunners, Assembly members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores, are neck-and-neck in the polls. Lasher, Nadler's preferred successor, has garnered support from prominent political figures including Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Bores has built a coalition that includes pro-Israel moderates and progressives critical of Israel, focusing his campaign on a tough stance against artificial intelligence companies. Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney is among Bores' supporters.

Notably, the NY-12 race stands out among New York City contests for its candidates' shared pro-Israel stance. Unlike other races where candidates have accused Israel of genocide or supported conditioning U.S. military aid, both Lasher and Bores describe themselves as pro-Israel while also expressing criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither candidate supports blocking weapons sales to Israel. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a voter in the district, has not publicly endorsed a candidate in this race, despite his endorsements of other progressive candidates who are critical of Israel.

With 32% of voters undecided, the race remains competitive. Jack Schlossberg and George Conway are also polling in double digits. The winner of this primary is virtually assured victory in the general election, succeeding Nadler, who has served in Congress since 1992.