Alex Bores (D), George Conway (D), Micah Lasher (D), Jack Schlossberg (D), and six other candidates are running in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23, 2026. The filing deadline is April 6, 2026. As of April 2026, Bores, Conway, Lasher, and Schlossberg led in polling, fundraising, and local media attention.

Incumbent Jerrold Nadler (D), first elected in 1992, is not seeking re-election. Nadler endorsed Lasher on February 9, 2026. The Washington Examiner's Ron Kampeas said, "many of the candidates are leaning into personal stories that help them stand out in a field where there is broad agreement on making New York affordable and stopping Trump’s excesses."

Bores was elected to the New York Assembly in 2022. Bores earlier worked in the software industry as an engineer and manager. Bores says he is "the first Democrat elected in New York State at any level with a degree in computer science." Bores supports regulations he says will limit the artificial intelligence industry. Bores said in a statement that "these AI Goliaths want to take over our safety, our workforce, and our kids’ minds for their own personal profit and power."

Conway is an attorney and the co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a group opposed to President Donald Trump's (R) policy agenda. Conway says he has spent six years "[using] his skills and network to expose Trump’s lies, corruption, and lawlessness in the media and in the courts." In a campaign ad, Conway said, "I'm running for Congress to take the fight directly back to him on your behalf...This is no ordinary time and I will not be an ordinary member of Congress."

Lasher was elected to the New York Assembly in 2024. Lasher earlier worked as a staffer to Nadler, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). City & State New York's Peter Sterne said Lasher was "widely seen as the heir apparent to retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler." Lasher is running on his professional experience. Lasher's campaign website says he has "played a key role in passing landmark laws to strengthen gun control, protect abortion access, and raise the minimum wage."

Schlossberg is a writer and social media personality who earlier worked at Rakuten and in the U.S. Department of State. Schlossberg is the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy (D). Vanity Fair's Eric Lutz said Schlossberg is "[pitching] himself as something of a bridge between Democrats and a toxic social media environment that has been dominated by Republicans." Schlossberg's campaign website says he is "focused on rooting out corruption, defending civil rights and personal freedoms, making housing affordable, protecting public health, and rebuilding trust in government."

Also running in the primary are Micah Bergdale (D), Christopher Diep (D), Laura Dunn (D), Nina Schwalbe (D), Mathew Shurka (D), and Patrick Timmins (D).

As of April 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic. In 2024, Nadler defeated Mike Zumbluskas (R) 80%–19%.