Jack Schlossberg's House Campaign Suffers Turnover as 33-Year-Old Maintains Narrow Primary Lead
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 14
Jack Schlossberg's House Campaign Suffers Turnover as 33-Year-Old Maintains Narrow Primary Lead
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 14
Jack Schlossberg’s bid for a Manhattan House seat has been marked by erratic behavior and staff churn, with Democrats, union leaders and family friends describing a chaotic operation.
Hours after his campaign launch, Schlossberg scrapped a planned day of donor and media outreach because he said he needed a nap, then largely vanished for the rest of the day, according to people familiar with the episode.
The 33-year-old first-time candidate also regularly skipped weekly strategy meetings and disappeared for long stretches with little explanation, unsettling aides trying to run a disciplined primary effort.
Despite the turmoil, Schlossberg has converted his Kennedy name, celebrity and online profile into a narrow lead ahead of June’s Democratic primary and has won Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement.
The disconnect between his political momentum and the campaign’s internal disorder is fueling broader doubts among Democrats about how he would function in Congress if elected.
Is Jack Schlossberg's 'outsider' campaign a genuine movement or just clever branding for a political insider?
Can a candidate’s charisma and famous last name overcome a campaign plagued by chaos and disorganization?
What does the rise of a chaotic but popular political heir reveal about modern American voter priorities?