Jerry Nadler Bests Carolyn Maloney in Nasty Primary Battle for NYC Seat
The race between the two longtime NYC lawmakers turned increasingly harsh in the final days.
Santiago Felipe/Getty
Rep. Jerrold Nadler won his primary election against fellow Rep. Carolyn Maloney Tuesday night, ending a tense nominating contest that pit two longtime New York Democrats against one another.
Their uncomfortable member-versus-member matchup was the result of redistricting, which threw New York City’s congressional delegation into chaos earlier this year as their territories merged. Maloney had already been facing a handful of progressive challengers—including Suraj Patel, who stayed in the race to battle both incumbents.
But in the waning days of the primary, Nadler appeared to emerge as a party favorite for the nomination. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) endorsed him as did Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). And the congressman managed to utilize his high-profile role in impeaching former President Donald Trump as a winning narrative on the campaign trail—as well as his Jewish faith in the heavily Jewish district.
Maloney, meanwhile, sought to frame herself as a reliable vote for the party’s agenda and highlighted her position as the only woman in the race. But she faced a bout of tough headlines in recent weeks after repeatedly insisting President Joe Biden would not run for a second term in 2024. The president, himself, has insisted he’s running again.
No sitting members of Congress endorsed Maloney, though she, like Nadler, had support from a number of local lawmakers and groups. Both Nadler and Maloney are part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and have few differences on policy.
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New York’s 12th Congressional District is heavily Democratic, meaning Nadler is virtually guaranteed to win re-election this November.
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