Eli Northrup files to run for Assembly again

Public defender Eli Northrup may be taking another stab at elected office. 

After coming in second behind now-Assembly Member Micah Lasher in the 2024 Democratic primary for Manhattan’s Assembly District 69, Northrup filed Monday to run for the seat once again, state campaign finance records show. 

The move comes less than a week after Lasher filed to run for Congress in light of Rep. Jerry Nadler’s announcement that he will not seek reelection next fall. Though Lasher is not the only one to have taken steps toward a House run, and even more have expressed interest in replacing Nadler, he is widely viewed as Nadler’s heir apparent. Given that Lasher can only run for either the Assembly or for Congress, Northrup could very well be running for an open seat. 

Asked about the filing, Northrup did not explicitly commit to running, and told City & State he was “considering the best way to serve (his) community during this critical moment.” As for how Nadler’s decision not to seek reelection may have influenced his plans, Northrup said, “I've continued to be involved in progressive politics in the neighborhood. … In terms of Jerry Nadler retiring, that's not something that I anticipated or had knowledge of.” 

Northrup was one of five candidates in a crowded primary to replace then-Assembly Member Danny O’Donnell. He received endorsements from both O’Donnell and the Working Families Party, but neither was enough for him to defeat the more moderate Lasher, who won with about 53% of the vote to Northrup’s 34%.