After 34 years in Congress, the most senior Jewish Member of the House of Representatives will not seek reelection in 2026, with Jerry Nadler telling The New York Times this week that watching Joe Biden’s forced exit convinced him the Democratic Party needs “generational change.”
“Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that,” Nadler told the Times. “I’m not saying we should change over the entire party. But I think a certain amount of change is very helpful, especially when we face the challenge of Trump and his incipient fascism.”
Nadler’s decision comes as he faced a primary challenge from 26-year-old Liam Elkind, a political organizer who had framed his campaign as “respectfully asking” the longtime congressman to step aside. At 78, Nadler had already seen his influence wane within the Democratic party after being stripped of his position in December as ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.
The Manhattan representative first won his House seat in 1992 and quickly established himself as a liberal champion on civil rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and constitutional law. His legal background made him a natural choice to lead impeachment proceedings, first against Bill Clinton in the 1990s (which he opposed as a “partisan railroad job”) and later as chairman of the Judiciary Committee during Trump’s first impeachment in 2019.
During Trump’s second impeachment following January 6th, Nadler again played a key role in drafting articles charging the president with inciting insurrection. Both Senate trials ended in acquittal, with Republicans maintaining party-line opposition to removal.
In his career, Nadler championed landmark legislation including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2022. After 9/11, when the World Trade Center fell within his district, he led efforts to secure $20 billion in recovery funding for New York City.
On Israel, Nadler has maintained a complex position that has evolved during the current Gaza conflict. Long describing himself as a “committed Zionist” and strong supporter of Israel post- Oct. 7, he recently broke with that pattern. For the first time, he said he would support efforts to block offensive weapons sales to Israel, though he continues backing missile defense funding.
“I don’t know what to say at this point,” Nadler told the Times. “I can’t defend what Israel is doing.”
In a speech to the House of Representatives back in June, Nadler blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for thwarting peace efforts.
“It is clear to me that we long ago reached the point where victory is no longer the goal, and the main obstacle to bringing the hostages [held by Hamas] home and ending the war is the politics of one man: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, whom Nadler recently endorsed despite Mamdani’s harsh criticism of Israel, praised the retiring congressman on social media.
“For more than 30 years, when New Yorkers needed a champion, we have turned to Jerry Nadler – and he has delivered for us time and again,” Mamdani wrote on X.
Nadler’s Manhattan district, covering the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Midtown, ranks among the most Democratic in the country. Multiple candidates are expected to enter the race, with sources in the party indicating Nadler may endorse state Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who represents parts of the Upper West Side.
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