Cameron Kasky, a Parkland shooting survivor and former March For Our Lives leader, has entered the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District. He joins a crowded field that includes Jack Schlossberg, local elected officials, activists and more moderate contenders vying to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. Kasky’s platform highlights Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and ending certain U.S. overseas funding. The race reflects a broader generational debate over the Democratic Party’s direction in New York City.
Parkland Survivor Cameron Kasky Enters Crowded NYC House Primary as Young Progressives Surge
Cameron Kasky, a Parkland shooting survivor and former March For Our Lives leader, has entered the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District. He joins a crowded field that includes Jack Schlossberg, local elected officials, activists and more moderate contenders vying to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. Kasky’s platform highlights Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and ending certain U.S. overseas funding. The race reflects a broader generational debate over the Democratic Party’s direction in New York City.
06:18 AM, 11/21/2025Politics
John F. Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg drew national attention when he announced a run to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, but he is just one of several young, progressive contenders seeking to represent Manhattan in Congress.
Parkland Survivor Enters the Race
On Tuesday, 25-year-old activist Cameron Kasky formally declared his candidacy for New York’s 12th Congressional District, joining an already crowded Democratic primary. Kasky, who survived the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and later helped lead the March For Our Lives movement, said his experience convinced him the system must change.
In his announcement video, Kasky walks through busy New York streets and rides public transit while addressing the camera. The short, cinematic clip — set to a jazzy soundtrack and edited with jump cuts — echoes the social-media-forward style that has propelled other young politicians.
Platform and Priorities
Kasky’s platform calls for Medicare for All, the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and an end to U.S. funding that he argues contributes to atrocities abroad. He framed his campaign as part of a broader push to elevate a new generation of leaders capable of meeting urgent challenges.
Who’s Running
Both Kasky and Schlossberg are vying to replace Rep. Jerry Nadler, the 78-year-old Democrat who represents Manhattan’s West Side and plans to retire at the end of next year. Schlossberg brings name recognition and a large online following — known for satirical and short-form videos — and has worked as a political correspondent in recent years.
Other notable Democrats in the primary include nonprofit leader Liam Elkind, Assembly members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores, City Council member Erik Bottcher, civil-rights lawyer Laura Dunn, former journalist Jami Floyd, finance veteran Alan Pardee, and LGBTQ rights activist Matthew Shurka. Several candidates are emphasizing generational change and reform; others are positioning themselves as pragmatic or establishment alternatives.
Context
Kasky’s entrance comes amid a wave of youthful progressive energy in New York City and beyond, following recent Democratic wins in state-level races and the election of a young progressive to lead New York City government. The crowded field underscores an ongoing debate within the party over direction, strategy and how to balance new voices with experienced officials.
As the primary unfolds, candidates will compete for attention among a diverse New York electorate that spans long-time Manhattan neighborhoods, younger digital-first voters, and more traditional constituencies. The contest to replace Nadler is shaping up to be one of the more closely watched Democratic primaries in the city.