Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, has launched his campaign for Congress in New York and simultaneously delivered a blistering critique of his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Schlossberg accused Kennedy Jr. of promoting “dangerous” ideas while positioning his own platform as grounded in legacy, responsibility and mainstream values.
Speaking at his campaign launch, Schlossberg detailed his connection to the Kennedy family’s public-service ethos, emphasising values of evidence-based policy, civic duty and respect for democratic institutions. He characterised Kennedy Jr.’s recent statements and positions as undermining those values.
Schlossberg did not shy away from family politics. He said: “When you carry the Kennedy name, you carry a responsibility — not just to the past, but to the future. Cousins can diverge, but we cannot diverge from facts, truth and service.”
His entrance into the race adds a compelling dynamic: on the one hand, the Kennedy legacy and name recognition; on the other, intra-family tension as his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.— himself well-known due to his presidential run and public visibility — watches from the sidelines. The duel of values and vision is now part of the campaign narrative.
Schlossberg’s early campaign messaging highlights issues such as strengthening public education, combating climate change, expanding healthcare access and ensuring technology regulation — themes he says align with his family heritage and his vision for the 21st Century. He portrayed his candidacy as offering a “return to serious politics,” contrasting with what he described as “sensationalism and celebrity politics.”
While it’s early days in the race, Schlossberg’s dual movement—embracing tradition while delineating his break from Kennedy Jr.—positions him as a unique contender in New York politics, leveraging his family name while also defining his own path.
