Micah
C. Lasher
New York State Assemblymember and 2026 Democratic candidate for U.S. House in NY-12
- sources
- 20
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 42
Background
Micah C. Lasher is a Democratic politician from Manhattan's Upper West Side, where he has lived his entire life. He attended Stuyvesant High School and graduated from New York University in 2003 with a degree in sociology. 7
Before entering elected office, Lasher held a range of government and policy roles, including New York State Director of Policy, Chief of Staff to the New York State Attorney General, and New York City Director of State Legislative Affairs. He also served as an aide to Rep. Jerry Nadler, worked at Sidewalk Labs, StudentsFirstNY, the NYC Department of Education, on the mayoral campaign of Scott Stringer, and at political consulting firm SKDKnickerbocker. 13
Lasher was elected to the New York State Assembly representing the 69th Assembly District in 2024 and began serving in 2025. 12 He is running as the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in New York's 12th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election, a seat being vacated by the retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. 61213
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 12, New York
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- New York State Assemblymember, 69th Assembly District
- Website
- micahlasher.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 7newsNY1 reports Shinkle is courting dissatisfied Democrats and making Lasher's Mamdani support a campaign issue
NY1 reported that Republican Shinkle was attempting to appeal to dissatisfied Democrats in the liberal district, using Lasher's support for Mayor Mamdani as a line of attack. The report also noted Shinkle had received Bill Ackman's endorsement and a $7,000 contribution from Kenneth Griffin.
GOP lawyer seeks dissatisfied Dems in liberal House district - NY1 · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsLasher publishes AI policy essay calling for federal regulation and state AG investigations of AI companies
In 'Tie Them to the Mast,' Lasher argued Congress should regulate AI and that, until it acts, state attorneys general should investigate AI companies and seek enforceable safety requirements, opposing federal preemption of state laws.
Tie Them to the Mast · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1debateSocial-media exchange includes call for Lasher to debate Republican opponent Shinkle
A post on Lasher's X account on October 1 was part of an exchange that included a call for him to debate Shinkle; no debate had been confirmed scheduled based on available sources.
Micah Lasher on X: "Major f'n emergency." / X · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21endorsementNew York State Nurses Association endorses Lasher for the November general election
NYSNA included Lasher in its first round of endorsements for the 2026 general election.
NYSNA 2026 General Election Endorsements | New York ... · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 4filingLasher certified on NY-12 general-election ballot alongside Republican Caroline Shinkle and two independents
New York's amended certification for the November 3 ballot listed four NY-12 candidates: Lasher (Democrat), Caroline Shinkle (Republican), Karen Ortiz, and Wilneida Negron.
10023 Sample Ballot: New York County, NY 2026 | The Ballot Brief · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30filingFEC filing shows Lasher raised ~$3.3M, spent ~$2.2M, with $1.1M cash on hand through June 30
Campaign-finance data through June 30 showed Lasher's campaign had raised about $3.3 million, spent $2.2 million, and held $1.1 million cash on hand. Roughly $14 million in independent expenditures for and against him were also reported by outside groups.
New York's 12th Congressional District 2026: Lasher vs. Shinkle | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 23newsLasher wins Democratic primary for NY-12, succeeding retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler
Lasher defeated a crowded field, receiving 40,106 votes (38.99%) to runner-up Alex Bores's 35,822 (34.82%). The race attracted heavy outside spending from groups aligned with opposing views on AI regulation.
election2026 Archives · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- New York League of Conservation Voters organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Brian Kavanagh officialState senator. micahlasher.com
- Richard Gottfried officialFormer state assemblymember. micahlasher.com
- Christine Quinn officialFormer New York City Council speaker. micahlasher.com
- New York State AFL-CIO unionListed on NY State AFL-CIO 2026 endorsements for NY-12; no specific date given. nysaflcio.org
- Broadway Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Hell's Kitchen Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Moms Demand Action (Gun Sense Candidate) organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Ruth Messinger officialFormer Manhattan borough president. micahlasher.com
- Public Employees Federation unionListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Columbia University Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- David Paterson officialFormer New York governor. micahlasher.com
- Brad Hoylman-Sigal officialManhattan borough president. micahlasher.com
- Deborah Glick officialState assemblymember. micahlasher.com
- Carl McCall officialFormer New York state comptroller. micahlasher.com
- Liam Elkind officialFormer candidate for NY-12. micahlasher.com
- Council of School Supervisors and Administrators unionListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Three Parks Independent Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Third Act NYC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Nydia Velázquez officialU.S. representative. micahlasher.com
- Gale Brewer officialNew York City councilmember; former borough president. micahlasher.com
- Shaun Abreu officialNew York City Council majority leader. micahlasher.com
- Scott Stringer officialFormer New York City comptroller and borough president. micahlasher.com
- Eleanor Roosevelt Independent Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Village Independent Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Erik Bottcher officialState senator. micahlasher.com
- Carl Wilson officialNew York City councilmember. micahlasher.com
- Diana Ayala officialFormer New York City councilmember. micahlasher.com
- CWA Local 1180 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Abundance New York organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Future Forum PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Brady PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. micahlasher.com
- Mark Levine officialNew York City comptroller. micahlasher.com
- Linda B. Rosenthal officialState assemblymember. micahlasher.com
- Dan Garodnick officialFormer New York City councilmember. micahlasher.com
- Actors' Equity Association unionArts union; endorsement announced May 26, 2026. actorsequity.org · May 26, 2026
- Kathy Hochul officialNew York governor. nydailynews.com · Apr 13, 2026
- Michael Bloomberg officialFormer New York City mayor; announced March 12, 2026, reported by JTA on March 13. jta.org · Mar 12, 2026
- 32BJ SEIU unionDated March 6, 2026 per NY-12 endorsement chronology. ny12.aok.site · Mar 6, 2026
- Jerry Nadler officialU.S. representative; endorsed Lasher as his successor, reported by NBC News on Feb. 9, 2026. micahlasher.com · Feb 9, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $3.32M
- Spent
- $2.23M
- Cash on hand
- $1.09M
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NY12172(opens in a new tab)
Sources 20
- [1] GOP lawyer seeks dissatisfied Dems in liberal House district - NY1(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [2] Tie Them to the Mast(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [3] New York State AFL-CIO Endorsements 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [4] Micah Lasher on X: "Major f'n emergency." / X(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [5] Endorsements - Micah Lasher for Congress(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [6] New York's 12th Congressional District 2026: Lasher vs. Shinkle | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [7] election2026 Archives(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [8] 10023 Sample Ballot: New York County, NY 2026 | The Ballot Brief(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [9] NYSNA 2026 General Election Endorsements | New York ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [10] NY-12 Democratic Primary (2026)(opens in a new tab) Sep 9, 2026
- [11] www.amny.com · sponsored · your-vote-2026-districtYour Vote 2026: District 12: Meet Micah Lasher, and where he ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 18, 2026
- [12] Media - Lasher for Congress(opens in a new tab) Jun 15, 2026
- [13] Election Q&A: Meet NY-12 Candidate Micah Lasher - Patch(opens in a new tab) Jun 12, 2026
- [14] Your Vote 2026: District 12: What's Next for Aging New ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 11, 2026
- [15] Micah Lasher on Housing, Immigration, and His Campaign for Congress in New York's 12th District(opens in a new tab) Jun 9, 2026
- [16] Actors' Equity Association Endorses Micah Lasher for United ...(opens in a new tab) May 26, 2026
- [17] An Interview With the UWS Elected Official Running to Represent the UWS and UES in Congress(opens in a new tab) Apr 13, 2026
- [18] Hochul backs Micah Lasher in NY-12 primary to replace Nadler(opens in a new tab) Apr 13, 2026
- [19] micahlasher.com · platform-and-policiesPlatform and Policies - Lasher for Congress(opens in a new tab) Mar 19, 2026
- [20] Mike Bloomberg wades into Manhattan congressional race ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 13, 2026