New York Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary Tuesday to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, defeating a crowded field that included anti-Trump lawyer George Conway, Kennedy family scion Jack Schlossberg, and fellow New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores.
The race drew outsized attention because incumbent Rep. Jerry Nadler's retirement created a rare open-seat contest in a Manhattan district he has represented for more than three decades, since 1992. The solidly Democratic district includes some of Manhattan's wealthiest and most liberal neighborhoods, including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown, and Chelsea.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative observers noted the significance of Conway's defeat in what was expected to be fertile territory for an anti-Trump Republican or independent-minded voter. Conway, a conservative attorney who became a high-profile Trump critic after leaving the administration, failed to gain traction despite national name recognition from his marriage to former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway.
"The notion that a well-funded, nationally known figure could wade into a hyperlocal Manhattan race and win was always questionable," said one Republican strategist familiar with New York politics. "Local Democratic voters know these candidates personally."
Some conservative commentators suggested the outcome demonstrated that traditional party infrastructure still matters, even in an era of high-profile celebrity candidates. Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, brought a famous family name and large social media following to the race but ultimately finished behind Lasher.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive groups and tech reformers expressed disappointment over Bores' defeat, viewing it as a setback for their push to regulate artificial intelligence at the state level. Bores helped author New York's RAISE Act, which would require major AI developers to publish safety plans and disclose risks tied to the most powerful models.
"This race became a referendum on whether states should have the authority to crack down on the rapidly growing AI industry," said one progressive advocacy leader who requested anonymity to discuss campaign strategy. "The tech super PACs made clear they would spend whatever it took to protect their interests."
Tech-aligned political action committees poured millions into opposing Bores, turning the Manhattan primary into a proxy war over AI governance. Supporters of tougher guardrails argued that without state-level intervention, powerful AI systems could be deployed without adequate safety oversight.
What the Numbers Show
Lasher entered the race with backing from three major New York political figures: retiring Rep. Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He previously served as director of state legislative affairs under Bloomberg's administration and worked in both Nadler's congressional office and Hochul's governorship.
The crowded field split the vote among several viable candidates with varying levels of name recognition. Bores' campaign centered on his background as a former computer engineer and his work on AI safety legislation at the state level, positioning himself as a candidate who understood technology policy better than most lawmakers.
The Bottom Line
Lasher will be heavily favored in November's general election given the district's Democratic lean. His victory signals that institutional backing from retiring incumbents remains valuable even when competing against candidates with national profiles or famous family names. The outcome also suggests that major financial investment from tech interests can successfully counter progressive campaigns focused on AI regulation, a dynamic likely to play out in other state-level races involving technology policy.