Representative Jerrold Nadler, the longest-serving member of New York’s congressional delegation and a central Democratic figure for more than three decades, announced he will not seek re-election in 2026. His decision marks the end of an era for Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a district he has represented since 1992.
Nadler, 78, cited the need for generational change, according to The New York Times. “Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that,” he said, suggesting younger Democrats could “maybe do better.”
Over 34 years in the House, Nadler emerged as a progressive stalwart, shaping debates on civil rights, surveillance reform, and marriage equality. He steered federal aid to Ground Zero after 9/11, championed the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, and played a central role in codifying same-sex marriage rights in 2022.
As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Nadler led the charge in impeaching Donald Trump, an adversary dating back to Manhattan development battles in the 1980s. His stubborn independence sometimes put him at odds with party leaders, but earned him a reputation as a principled fighter.
Nadler has also become increasingly outspoken on foreign policy, denouncing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza as “mass murder and war crimes,” while pledging to oppose U.S. transfers of offensive weapons to Israel.
The congressman’s retirement sets up a competitive Democratic primary in a seat that stretches from Union Square to Central Park. Allies suggest he may quietly support Assemblyman Micah Lasher, a former aide, though Nadler declined to make an endorsement.
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