At Zabar's, a Manhattan institution for over 90 years, voters weigh in on the crowded field of candidates vying for Rep. Jerry Nadler's old seat. As the holiday season brings together friends and family from across the country, conversations around the Thanksgiving dinner table are dominated by politics.
New Yorkers in the 12th Congressional District, which includes iconic spots like Times Square, Central Park, and the Upper East Side, are treated to an impressive lineup of candidates. Seasoned politicians like state Assembly members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores rub shoulders with social media personalities like Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and even a survivor of the Parkland mass shooting, Cameron Kasky.
To gauge voters' views on this diverse group of candidates, Gothamist conducted informal polls at two key locations: Butterfield Market on the Upper East Side and Zabar's on the Upper West. The results offer a glimpse into what matters most to the district's voters: finding a representative who can negotiate for funding for the MTA, advocate for Jewish voters, and bring new ideas to the table.
June Eddy, a 70-year-old Zabar's patron, praised Nadler's retirement as an opportunity for fresh perspectives. She wants a negotiator who can secure money for the MTA and is not opposed to voting for someone with Jewish roots. "Our government has turned into a gerontocracy in Congress," she said. "We need new ideas."
While some voters are intrigued by Schlossberg's progressive stance on corruption, others dismiss his pedigree as a Kennedy. For Bruce Eder, owner of Westsider Records, the appeal lies with candidates like Micah Lasher, who has worked closely with Nadler, or George Conway, an anti-Trump conservative lawyer who could shake up the traditionally Democratic district.
Meanwhile, Jeff Danowitz, 82, expressed his support for Alex Bores, a first-term state legislator who has focused on artificial intelligence regulations. "He's done great work so far," he said. "Alex Bores is the guy. Period."
As the candidates continue to jockey for attention, some voters are calling for more options in the field. Harris Bulow, 47, mentioned Scott Stringer, a former city comptroller who has also expressed his opposition to the "gerontocracy." While Stringer has ruled out running, his message resonates with some voters.
With the primary just around the corner, one thing is clear: this election promises to be a thrilling test of ideology and experience in a district that values pragmatism and social justice. As voters weigh their options, it remains to be seen which candidate will emerge victorious in the battle for Rep. Jerry Nadler's old seat.
New Yorkers in the 12th Congressional District, which includes iconic spots like Times Square, Central Park, and the Upper East Side, are treated to an impressive lineup of candidates. Seasoned politicians like state Assembly members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores rub shoulders with social media personalities like Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and even a survivor of the Parkland mass shooting, Cameron Kasky.
To gauge voters' views on this diverse group of candidates, Gothamist conducted informal polls at two key locations: Butterfield Market on the Upper East Side and Zabar's on the Upper West. The results offer a glimpse into what matters most to the district's voters: finding a representative who can negotiate for funding for the MTA, advocate for Jewish voters, and bring new ideas to the table.
June Eddy, a 70-year-old Zabar's patron, praised Nadler's retirement as an opportunity for fresh perspectives. She wants a negotiator who can secure money for the MTA and is not opposed to voting for someone with Jewish roots. "Our government has turned into a gerontocracy in Congress," she said. "We need new ideas."
While some voters are intrigued by Schlossberg's progressive stance on corruption, others dismiss his pedigree as a Kennedy. For Bruce Eder, owner of Westsider Records, the appeal lies with candidates like Micah Lasher, who has worked closely with Nadler, or George Conway, an anti-Trump conservative lawyer who could shake up the traditionally Democratic district.
Meanwhile, Jeff Danowitz, 82, expressed his support for Alex Bores, a first-term state legislator who has focused on artificial intelligence regulations. "He's done great work so far," he said. "Alex Bores is the guy. Period."
As the candidates continue to jockey for attention, some voters are calling for more options in the field. Harris Bulow, 47, mentioned Scott Stringer, a former city comptroller who has also expressed his opposition to the "gerontocracy." While Stringer has ruled out running, his message resonates with some voters.
With the primary just around the corner, one thing is clear: this election promises to be a thrilling test of ideology and experience in a district that values pragmatism and social justice. As voters weigh their options, it remains to be seen which candidate will emerge victorious in the battle for Rep. Jerry Nadler's old seat.
The thing is, I think the most important thing right now is not who's gonna win or what their stance on this and that is, but actually what they're going to do for us. Like, we need someone who's gonna make sure our MTA gets some funding 
. It's not about being a Kennedy or whatever pedigree you've got, it's about who can get things done 
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and someone who actually cares about making a difference in our community 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out! 
. But seriously, with all these candidates vying for the same seat, you'd think someone would come out with some actual ideas that don't involve throwing money at problems 
. Like, I know we need more funding for the MTA, but can't we just, like, talk about it without promising to throw another billion dollars at the problem? 
Candidate debates are getting too crowded 
They're all just going to be beholden to the same special interests and donors anyway.
It's not like it's going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
On the other hand, I'm intrigued by George Conway's anti-Trump stance – is he the dark horse of the bunch? 
As a layout enthusiast, I love how the Gothamist polls are organized; it's like they took all the candidate info and arranged them into a neat little grid. 
Can't wait to see who comes out on top in this primary! 
. But let's be real, voters are gonna want someone who can get things done, not just talk a good game 
. We need someone who can negotiate like Nadler used to, not just promise to shake things up 
.
️. But at the same time, let's not forget about the rest of us too! We need someone who represents all of us, not just one particular group 
.
!
. But what's interesting is how the Jewish vote plays into this - I've got friends from Brooklyn who are super passionate about that issue, so fingers crossed whoever wins knows how to represent them 
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. But at the same time, I'm a bit worried we don't have enough options 
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It's like they want someone who's gonna shake things up a bit. And hey, who can blame 'em? It feels like there's been some stale politics going on for years.
️ and its crazy! 12th congressional district has some big names throwing their hats into the ring 
jack schlossberg is low-key progressive tho 
his grandma was president 
cameron kasky, parkland survivor, is also running 
mta funding is a major priority for voters 
I mean, can you blame New Yorkers for wanting some fresh meat after 90 years of Rep. Jerry Nadler? It's like they're trying to break up with a long-term relationship and are looking for someone new to argue with on Twitter 
. On a serious note tho, it'll be interesting to see how this election plays out - are we gonna get some radical change or just more of the same old thing? Either way, I hope they bring the snacks... like the good ol' MTA funding 
. And then you've got folks like Micah Lasher and Alex Bores who are just trying to make a difference in their own ways 
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