Jack Schlossberg‘s campaign for a coveted New York House seat has been chaotic, according to multiple reports published this week, suggesting that staff turnover and erratic behavior by John F. Kennedy’s grandson may be pushing his candidacy to a breaking point.
The 33-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg — known for an esoteric social media presence and a sporadic work history — is vying for the NY-12 House seat. Thus far, polling shows he has held his own and carved out a narrow lead against a crowded field of far more experienced hopefuls, including state assemblymen Alex Bores and Micah Lasher and Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway. He has even managed to garner Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement.
Patch reports that a March poll showed Schlossberg with 25 percent of support from likely Democratic voters in the district.
But the kind of representative he would be is being called into question. The NY-12 district covers wealthy, educated voters in Midtown and parts of the Upper East and Upper West Sides of Manhattan. A New York Times account of his campaign, published Thursday, reports on erratic behavior and what appears to be, at times, a lackadaisical approach — a problem given the nine months his team has to convince these voters that Schlossberg is their guy.
On policy, he has staked out a blue-chip centrist lane that mostly focuses on opposing President Trump, while finding middle ground on the Israel-Palestine conflict — defending continued U.S. funding of Israel’s Iron Dome. In New York, he has worked to restore buildings in Chelsea, proposed that the federal government bill Trump Tower for its own security costs and called for a freeze on Trump’s tariffs. He has also become known as “No PAC Jack” for his stance on campaign finance reform.
On day one of Schlossberg’s campaign, the Times reported, as his team went full speed ahead, the candidate opted to skip an opportunity to build energy among his staffers — in favor of taking a nap. Citing three people familiar with the situation, the paper reported that staffers said they were “reeling” when he disappeared for the remainder of the day.
Firings have been frequent and have reached the top brass: At least two campaign managers, two field directors, a handful of advisers and a roster of consultants have all been let go so far.
Staffers are also reportedly afraid that Schlossberg — who built a large social media following through acerbic and confounding posts rather than traditional political experience — will turn his online wrath on them if they speak out. All sources spoke with the paper anonymously. His most loyal staff and supporters were quick to defend him, arguing that staff churn is common in any New York City campaign, and that the death of his sister Tatiana Schlossberg in December helps explain behavior otherwise uncharacteristic of a young politician.
Vanity Fair also published its insights into the Schlossberg campaign, painting a picture of smitten young women volunteering for the handsome heir to Camelot, lush events at venues like the Tap Room, overlooking the Hudson River and the art world heir Peter Brant Jr.’s family townhouse. “Social” and “not too, too political” meet-and-greets with the candidate are creating energy among the Gen-Z and Millennials of the district and around town, the magazine reports.
If the media has responded harshly to Schlossberg’s run, he appears to be taking it in stride — responding to the Times with a quip about the nap anecdote after the story was published. But he also appeared on CNN to be a bit more livid and defended himself against the claims.
“There’s a lot in that article that’s not true, but you know how this works: once you’re declared the frontrunner and early voting starts in less than a month, everyone’s got something to say,” he said.
