Micah Lasher submits candidacy for U.S. Congress

In the wake of Rep. Jerry Nadler's retirement announcement, the race to fill his seat in the 12th Congressional District of Manhattan is heating up. The first official candidate to create a campaign committee since Nadler's announcement is Micah Lasher, who has filed with the Federal Election Commission to establish "Micah Lasher for Congress."

Lasher, a former Assembly Member, is widely seen as the heir apparent to Rep. Nadler. His entry into the race marks the beginning of an official run for Congress. Rob Gottheim, Nadler's chief of staff, will serve as Lasher's campaign treasurer.

The 12th Congressional District, known for its liberal politics, is expected to host a crowded election. Cynthia Nixon, a former gubernatorial candidate, Whitney Tilson, a former mayoral candidate, Tali Farhadian Weinstein, a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, Carolyn Maloney, a former representative, and Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, are among the potential candidates.

Local elected officials have also expressed interest in running for Nadler's seat. This includes Alex Bores, Erik Bottcher, and Keith Powers, in addition to Micah Lasher.

The creation of Lasher's campaign committee allows him to begin raising funds for his run. The election is expected to be expensive and competitive, given the Democratic primary nature of the district. The West Side's political landscape may be significantly influenced by the succession in the 12th Congressional District.

However, it remains unclear who else might participate in the Democratic primary. There is currently no clear public information about which candidates have officially declared for the election. Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, state Sen. Liz Krueger, Council Member Gale Brewer, Chelsea Clinton, and Lindsey Boylan have all made clear they are not interested in running for Nadler's seat.

Nonprofit founder Liam Elkind was the first candidate to create a campaign committee for the 12th Congressional District. The anticipated void left by Rep. Nadler's retirement has sparked much interest and speculation in Manhattan politics. As the race progresses, more candidates are expected to declare their intentions and the political landscape of the district could undergo significant changes.