Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jack Schlossberg for US Congress NY-12

Candidate Name: Jack Schlossberg
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-12
Campaign Website: https://jackfornewyork.com/

1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district? Although my candidacy may not be ‘traditional’, I have the skills needed to successfully represent NY-12 in Congress. I am a Harvard-trained lawyer, have an MBA, worked at the State Department under Secretary John Kerry, and served as a top delegate for the Biden and Harris campaigns. I have the ability to read and write legislation just as well as any other candidate in this field. However, in today’s day and age we have an attention economy. It is critical that elected officials are capable of practicing politics in 2026, meaning they must have the ability to reach their constituents where they are at, primarily through social media. I have learned how to thrive in this environment and have amassed a following of over 2 million across platforms. The same cannot be said for my opponents. This is not a skill that can be learned on the job in 2026. Whoever is elected to this seat must come into their role knowing how to legislate and resonate in today’s media environment, and I do.

2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? While on the Harris-Walz Campaign, I joined the Reproductive Rights Tour Bus and traveled across the country highlighting the importance of access to reproductive health care. I was also invited to march with the Lavender Green Alliance in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and look forward to growing my relationship with them. As I am a first time candidate, many of my relationships with LGBTQ+ organizations are still developing, but I look forward to strengthening and deepening them.

3. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies? I attended the re-raising of the Pride Flag earlier this year at the Stonewall monument. I also participated in the No Kings march back in late March. I have made pro-choice legislation like the Women’s Health Protection and Abortion Justice Acts a focal part of my platform. I also attended, and spoke at, Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) Convention and highlighted the urgent need for racial and criminal justice. Finally, I have unveiled my own innovative policy proposals, like Jack’s Board of ‘Piece’, which would force Trump (who has made billions during his second term) to foot the bill for the permanent perimeter around Trump Tower, allowing the city to reinvest this money into cops, teachers, and transit (helping the Mayor make free buses a reality). On Mother’s Day I unveiled Jack’s ‘Monthly Mom's bonus’ which would increase the Child Tax Credit and provide payments on a monthly basis vs. lump sum at the end of the year. To fund this we would take the funds allocated for Trump’s ballroom and instead put that towards working families, in addition to other revenue streams. I will continue to offer up new, creative solutions to combat Trump while working to improve the lives of New Yorkers and Americans nationwide.

4. In light of the Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda? First, we must abolish ICE – period. The agency is beyond reform as it has become a paramilitary force and is now the most well-funded federal law enforcement agency. As for the LGBTQ+ community, Trump has used them as a scapegoat to divide our country. We have seen trans children lose access to gender-affirming care, access to PrEP and other HIV prevention has been threatened, and protections erased. Women and individuals who can get pregnant are at a point of touch and go when it comes to accessing mifepristone. All of this has been carried out by Donald Trump and his cronies. With so much coming at us day after day, the American people struggle to keep up and with the amount of lies coming out of the mouth of our President, we can’t even believe what he says. We need someone who has the hard skills needed to legislate, but can also breakthrough and thrive in our attention economy. I understand how to do that. We need elected officials with platforms, who know how to reach people where they are at. Building and mobilizing public pressure and awareness have impacts and it’s critical that NY-12 have a Congressperson that can do so. So while Trump would oppose any legislative efforts to protect these populations, I will be loud and proud in my support for these groups and would dig my heels in against any Trump efforts to eviscerate protections further.

5. Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights? No

6. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion? Yes

7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community? I support Drag Story Hours, but have not yet funded or hosted. However, I would be interested in doing so.

8. Do you support right-wing attempts to ban the teaching of “critical race theory”? No

9. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a Sanctuary City? We need strong voices down in DC to speak out and speak up against the Trump Administration’s targeting of Sanctuary Cities, like NYC. We cannot let the Trump Administration bully Sanctuary Cities into submission. We need someone who is loud and clear when it comes to federal dollars being used as leverage by the Trump Administration. If elected, I will work with city and state officials to make sure we are prepared for tactics deployed by the Trump Administration. I will also work with organizations that are already active on the ground and have established relationships within immigrant communities. Lastly, I will ensure that I have a robust casework operation that is ready to go and respond to any violations committed by the Trump Administration when it comes to how they treat immigrants.

10. Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State? Yes

11. If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need? Yes

12. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district? I have never opposed any shelter in my district. In terms of representing vulnerable populations, we need strong advocates who are able to use their platform to highlight the needs of these groups and at the same time. This advocate must have the hard skills to legislate and secure federal funds for their district, which can then be provided to the city government and organizations that are already on the ground and have established trust with these communities.

13. Do you oppose the death penalty? Yes

14. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement? Yes

15. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society? Yes and Yes

16. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club? Yes

17. Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election? No, I did not rank Andrew Cuomo. I supported Zohran Mamdani in both the primary and general elections.

18. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support renaming the former Queensboro Bridge? Yes

19. Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority? Yes

20. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res. 719 “Honoring the Life and Legacy of Charles Kirk”? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted? I would have voted against House Res. 719

21. Do you support the immediate impeachment of Trump and other administration officials? If yes, which? Yes, President Trump should be impeached. Additionally, I firmly believe that a majority of administration officials, especially Secretaries Hegseth and Kennedy Jr., have violated their oath of office and would support impeachment of them as well.

22. When Democrats regain power, do you favor Justice Department prosecutions to hold Trump’s administration officials accountable for criminal offenses? Yes

23. Would you vote to defund ICE? Yes

24. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted? Although I have strongly disagreed with some of Rep. Tlaib’s rhetoric, I would not have voted to censure her.

25. If an incumbent, how have you voted on allowing NSA to conduct warrantless searches? If not an incumbent, how would you vote? I would not support allowing warrantless searches

26. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res 58 “Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism”? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted? I would have opposed this bill as it was a political stunt that condemns socialism in “all forms” including Democratic Socialism.

27. If an incumbent, how did you house on a resolution directing the removal of all troops in foreign nations not authorized by Congress? N/A – I am not an incumbent

28. Do you support allowing DC to fund its own government, including the criminal justice system, without oversight by Congress? Yes

29. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state? We need to pass federal legislation that incentivizes the construction of low and moderate-income housing throughout the state. Additionally we must fund Section 9, true public housing. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which is currently stalled in the House, includes provisions that will increase the construction of homes including an innovation fund and funding to convert vacant/abandoned buildings into housing. As for funding Section 9, we must finally give the program the investment it requires which will allow public housing authorities, like NYCHA, to serve those who live in public housing.

30. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry? Yes

31. Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults? Commercial sex work is a very broad term. I would not oppose removing criminal penalties and would want to ensure that any legislation that does remove criminal penalties for sex work is very thoughtful, intentional, and written in a way that empowers and protects sex workers.

32. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision? I am the only candidate who has taken an Integrity Pledge, meaning I do not accept corporate PAC, super PAC, big AI, or special interest (like AIPAC) money. We have raised over $2.8 million with an average donation of less than $40. This is a people-powered campaign with over 65,000 donations from all 50 states. No other candidate has had this type of reach or impact.

33. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials? Yes