Former Republican George Conway jumps into NY-12 race

The race to replace Rep. Jerry Nadler is gaining a new contender. Political pundit and frequent Donald Trump critic George Conway officially launched his campaign on Tuesday with the president firmly in his crosshairs.

Once a Republican whom Trump considered for a position in his first administration, Conway has since emerged as a leader in the movement of Never-Trump Republicans. He has spent years appearing on cable news, writing op-eds and donating to Democrats in opposition to the president. Last year, he renounced his old party entirely to become a Democrat, and he’s now running as one to represent the 12th Congressional District. “I just feel that I haven’t done enough,” Conway told City & State. “And I think this particular moment, because so much is at stake, really requires people who are very laser focused on fighting autocracy.”

Like many first-time candidates, Conway said he never intended to run for office. And at 62, he’s not looking to stick around for too long if elected – he envisions only two terms: one to get Trump out and one to begin the work of making government functional again. “I want to help get us past this moment so we can have a functioning democracy,” Conway said, adding that the country needs a “second American Reconstruction” in order to pass laws to ensure that Trump’s abuses of power can’t be repeated.

Politicians from both parties have recently run hard on issues related to affordability, but Conway said that isn’t the biggest issue facing Americans. While he agreed that policy solutions to the crisis facing Americans are important, he said no substantive progress can happen until Trump is out of office. “Whatever someone's issue is, whatever they think is the most important priority on a policy level … we can't even really seriously make inroads into improving things … until we deal with job one, which is Trump,” he said. “And I think that's one important message that I have.”

Conway enters a crowded race to represent the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. Nadler is expected to endorse Assembly Member Micah Lasher, who is widely seen as his heir apparent. Fellow Assembly Member Alex Bores is the only top contender from the east side of the district. Kennedy scion Jack Schlossberg also announced a campaign. Other candidates include former broadcast journalist Jami Floyd, civil rights lawyer Laura Dunn, gun control activist and Parkland shooting survivor Cameron Kasky, Wall Street investor Alan Pardee and LGBTQ+ activist Mathew Shurka. New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher previously launched a bid but dropped out the same day Conway filed in order to run for state Senate.