A new liberal bombshell has entered the New York City political chat. After the election of Zohran Mamdani for mayor, social media is now swooning over the 12th District’s newest candidate—Jack Schlossberg, the internet’s latest ‘babygirl’.
John F. Kennedy’s grandson announced this week that he will run as a Democrat for Congress in New York’s 12th District to replace Representative Jerry Nadler next year. The prestigious district comprises of the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, and Midtown Manhattan.
A Kennedy Steps Forward
“250 years after America was founded, and our country is at a turning point. It’s a crisis at every level,” Schlossberg shared in his campaign announcement.
He continued: “I’m not running because I have all the answers to our problems. I’m running because the people of New York 12 do. I want to listen to your struggles, hear your stories, amplify your voice, go to Washington and execute on your behalf.”
Many shared their own political aspirations in the comments section across his candidacy posts.
“Okay how do I become the First Lady,” asked Claudia.
“I can’t wait to be a congressman’s wife,” joked Erin.
The Internet’s Babygirl
It isn’t only his Kennedy lineage that has sparked fascination. Schlossberg has long cultivated a colorful social-media presence as a creator and political commentator, with over 1.6 million followers across Instagram and TikTok.
The self-proclaimed “silly goose” shares colorful snippets of his day-to-day New York life, including paddleboarding on the river, skits mocking Republicans—including first lady Melania Trump—and an array of funny musings.
The Financial Times pointed out his 6 feet, 2 inch stature, trademark Kennedy cheekbones and “camera ready, doe-eyed, heartbreaker grin.” His looks and persona slot him neatly into the internet’s “babygirl” archetype: a handsome and chronically online, chaotic source of collective fascination. Schlossberg mixes political commentary with unserious and unguarded humor, a combination that captivates Generation Z.
‘More Than Just ‘Babygirl’ Fandom’
“Jack Schlossberg’s rapid rise in popularity and media maelstrom from his campaign announcement are due to more than just ‘babygirl’ fandom. The Kennedy legacy is the largest pop-star lineage in history, and has captivated Americans for decades,” James Christopher, who runs a New York City political and public relations firm, told Newsweek.
Christopher added that Schlossberg has maintained a unique appeal by not leaning heavily on the Kennedy name. He noted that he has built a persona that resonates with younger voters who crave authenticity and honesty in politics.
Christopher said that, unlike RFK Jr., who entered the White House by embracing misleading MAGA-aligned “bro-science,” Jack remained firmly Democratic in both his philanthropy and fundraising.
According to Christopher, crafting and maintaining authentic-seeming values will be key in the 2026 elections. “Having great looks and greater hair certainly doesn’t hurt, either,” he added.
Schlossberg graduated from Yale University in 2015 with a BA in history, then went on to earn a joint business and law degree from Harvard before passing the New York bar exam in 2023. However, he veered in a different direction and became Vogue’s political correspondent.
Now, Schlossberg appears ready to follow in his family’s footsteps toward political power. Many Americans resent what they see as the Kennedy political monopoly: a dynasty that many view as the closest thing the U.S. has to royalty. Some remain enamored with the legacy, while others are simply mesmerized by them.
But, in true ‘celebrities are just like us’ fashion, the family is no stranger to conflict. Schlossberg has not shied away from calling out his estranged cousin, Republican RFK Jr., now the U.S. health secretary. Most recently, in an interview with MSNBC, Schlossberg referred to him as a “rabid dog.”
“RFK Jr. is a dangerous person who is making life-and-death decisions as secretary of Health and Human Services,” Schlossberg told MSNBC.
Newsweek reached out to the HHS for comment via comment request form. When previously covering the comments made by Jack Schlossberg against RFK Jr. a spokesperson told Newsweek: “Secretary Kennedy is focused on doing his job, improving the health and well-being of the American people.”
The Rise of Rizz in Politics
Schlossberg’s announcement comes a week after New York City voted for Zohran Mamdani as their mayor. The 34-year-old social democrat who similarly set the internet alight with his sparky online presence and charisma.
Now, social-media users are backing his candidacy through a plethora of fittingly amusing posts.
“Imagine living in Zohran’s New York in Jack Schlossberg’s congressional district. It’s the sexiest possible representative lineup a young political person could dream of,” wrote Channing @quarantinetime on X.
Not everyone is convinced, however. Some users criticized the nepotistic nature of the candidacy.
“I think it’s beautiful that you can go from doing whatever this is on Instagram to running for Congress in just three months simply by being a Kennedy,” wrote Josh Billinson, a senior social media editor at Semafor.
TikTok user Cocahart (@cocahart) shared a montage of images of the 32-year-old set to Lana Del Rey’s “National Anthem,” captioned: “He will make America hot again—following his grandfather’s legacy I see.” The post received more than 45,500 likes and 149,300 views.
Actor and model Julia Fox even chimed in: “He has my vote.”
She recently faced backlash for her controversial Halloween outfit—a blood-stained pink suit mirroring the one Jackie Kennedy wore during the assassination—but defended it on Instagram as “a statement.” Fox said that Jackie famously refused to remove the suit after the shooting and that it was a symbol of female resilience.
“Suddenly everyone is cool with nepo babies,” posted William.
“Kennedy lore was the closest thing to American Royalty,” commented Brody.
“PLEASE SAVE US HOT KENNEDY,” another TikTok user wrote.
“And he’s prettier on the inside,” said Holley.
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