The race to succeed longtime Democratic representative and New York City mainstay Jerry Nadler has become one of the most highly anticipated contests of the 2026 cycle, fielding a range of prominent candidates that range from wonky state legislators to cable-friendly Trump critics.

In a field this crowded, endorsements will matter. And a major one dropped on Thursday: Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is backing State Assemblyman Micah Lasher, a former legislative aide of Bloomberg’s.

“Micah was a key part of our team in City Hall, where he helped secure the city’s fair share from Albany and advanced the cause of gun safety. I counted on Micah when I was Mayor, and he delivered for our city. I look forward to supporting him this June, and I hope you will, too,” Bloomberg wrote on social media, sharing a photo of himself and Lasher.

The New York Times reports that Bloomberg intends to back Lasher’s bid with an extensive media advertising campaign spanning TV, mail, and online ads and backed by likely millions of dollars in spending. Last month, Nadler issued his long-awaited endorsement of Lasher, who also worked under the congressman and was viewed by many as his political protégé.

But Bloomberg isn’t the first big name to weigh in. Last month, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her endorsement for internet commentator and political scion Jack Schlossberg, saying that the 33-year-old grandson of JFK “represents the best of his generation: authentic, smart, creative and driven.” New reporting from the Times on Thursday revealed Pelosi has even recorded an ad with Schlossberg, which will be released in a matter of weeks. The former House Speaker has had a decades-long relationship with the Kennedy family and previously endorsed Joe Kennedy III’s bid for Senator Ed Markey’s seat in Massachusetts back in 2020.

The race also includes State Assemblymember Alex Bores and lawyer and prominent Trump critic George Conway, among others. And a pair of recent polls — though both commissioned by vested interests — suggest that things are truly up for grabs. A GQR poll fielded by Conway’s campaign found Schlossberg leading the field with 28 percent, followed by Conway with 16 percent and Bores and Lasher tied at 11 percent. Thirty-three percent of primary voters said they were currently undecided in the race.

A Schoen Cooperman Research poll, commissioned by the pro-AI super-PAC Leading the Future, also found Schlossberg leading with 23 percent of the vote, followed by Conway with 13 percent, Bores with 11 percent, and Lasher with 6 percent. The PAC has notably directed its spending in an anti- Bores direction over his support for AI regulations in New York.

Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

More From This Series

Can the Housing Bill Survive Trump’s Sudden Indifference?

Is J.D. Vance Feeling Left Out of Trump’s Big New War?

The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Getting Even Worse

© Daily Intelligencer