


Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton, is not running for New York’s vacant House seat in 2026.
A spokesperson for Chelsea Clinton told the Washington Examiner that “there is no truth to this” when asked about reports speculating that she would launch a bid for the seat held by retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY).
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“She is not considering a run,” the spokesperson said.
The news comes after a few days of speculation about who will join what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary to replace Nadler. The longest-serving New Yorker, whose career spans over three decades in Congress, announced Monday he wouldn’t seek reelection after heeding calls of generational change from the younger members of the Democratic base.
This is not the first time the former first daughter has been in the mix for a House seat. In 2019, former Rep. Nita Lowey announced she would not seek reelection in 2020. A powerhouse Democrat who was the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, Lowey’s retirement set off speculation that Chelsea Clinton may seek her seat.
In 2018, the younger Clinton told the Journal News that “if someone were to step down or retire,” she would “have to think if it’s the right choice for me.”
The Clinton news comes as Lina Khan, the former chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission and current Columbia Law School professor, said she is also not interested in a run for Nadler’s seat in an interview with The Bulwark.
Nadler’s retirement presents a rare opportunity for candidates to run without an incumbent to face. In a blue powerhouse like New York, eyes will be on the candidates to see who will receive state and national Democratic support to take over a coveted and highly critical seat.
Although both Clinton and Khan, who would have likely been leading contenders with heavy party support, have passed on a campaign, many others are expected to jump into the 10-month race for the safe blue New York seat, which is considered an important stronghold for the Democratic Party.
The seat is all but assured to attract heavy media attention, particularly as Nadler is one of the oldest lawmakers from the Democrats’ establishment pack. Only four elder Democratic lawmakers have decided to forgo reelection, a few in the face of a progressive primary challenger arguing it’s time for fresh blood on Capitol Hill.
JERRY NADLER’S HOUSE RETIREMENT OPENS FLOODGATES FOR EAGER DEMOCRATIC SUCCESSORS IN NEW YORK
Nadler had one declared primary challenger: Liam Elkind, the CEO of a nonprofit group who has urged the need for a younger voice in Congress.
Other possible contenders include Assemblymen Micah Lasher and Alex Bores, New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher, former New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Kennedy relative and social media star Jack Schlossberg, and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.