John F. Kennedy's grandson and Democratic influencer Jack Schlossberg announced he is running for Congress, launching a campaign to replace retiring New York Rep. Jerry Nadler.

The only son of Caroline Kennedy would serve parts of New York City if elected to succeed Nadler, the influential ex-chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who currently represents New York's 12th Congressional District.

In a campaign video posted to social media on Nov. 12, Schlossberg slammed the administration and Republican leadership, saying the country is in a crisis "at every level."

"We deserve better, and we can do better. And it starts with the Democratic Party winning back control of the House of Representatives," he said. "With control of Congress, there's nothing we can't do. Without it, we're helpless to a third term."

The 32-year-old Schlossberg told the Times on Sept. 2 that his candidacy was "certainly a possibility," and the following day, Schlossberg made a poll Sept. 3 on his Instagram Story to ask his 700,000 followers, "Should I run for office?" He boasts nearly 1.5 million followers on Instagram and TikTok.

USA TODAY reached out to reps for Schlossberg for comment.

"I want to listen to your struggles, hear your stories, amplify your voice, go to Washington, and execute on your behalf," Schlossberg said in his social media video, standing in front of New York City's skyline. "There is nowhere I'd rather be than in the arena fighting for my hometown."

He is the first Kennedy family member to run for Congress since Joe Kennedy III left his U.S. House seat in Massachusetts to launch a primary challenge to progressive Sen. Ed Markey. The other Kennedy heir lost the race in 2020.

Schlossberg is also the estranged cousin of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a key ally of President Donald Trump. Schlossberg has urged RFK Jr. to resign over his long history of promoting health disinformation, calling his relative a "threat to public health and American scientific leadership."

Seen by Gen Z as a rising star among national Democrats, Schlossberg spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and is known for his peculiar humor. In April, he raised eyebrows after posting on X that he was having a baby with Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance.

But Schlossberg seemingly won't have Nadler's support. Nadler previously slammed the online creator during a Sept. 4 appearance on "CNN News Central" with host Kate Bolduan.

"What do you think about a Kennedy holding your seat?" Bolduan asked Nadler. He responded that "there's nothing particularly good or bad about a Kennedy holding my seat," claiming that "the Kennedy, unlike Schlossberg, should be something with a record of public service, a record of public accomplishment, and he doesn't have one."

During the CNN interview, Nadler added that "I don't think he's going to be a candidate in the end, and he certainly is not going to be a major candidate." Nadler, 78, was first elected to Congress in 1992.

Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton previously passed on launching her own bid to replace Nadler. A spokesperson for the only child of former president Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denied reports Sept. 3 that the author would wade into political life.

Ex-Nadler aide and New York state assemblyman Micah Lasher, financial industry executive Alan Pardee and community organizer Liam Elkind are among the candidates running in the 12th district.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Contributing: Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John F. Kennedy's grandson Jack Schlossberg is running for Congress

Reporting by Jay Stahl, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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