By Allison Moon
WSR took to the streets yesterday to talk to Upper West Siders about the historic Nadler-Maloney face-off in the upcoming Democratic congressional primary, taking place on August 23rd.
The first thing we discovered in our on-the-ground, informal, information-gathering effort is that about half the people we met had no idea the “match-up of the century” was even taking place or who the contenders are!
“I haven’t been following”…”I haven’t looked into it”… “I don’t know enough about the candidates to say anything,” were common refrains.
It’s time to get up to snuff, Upper West Siders! Here’s the gist:
Representative Jerrold (Jerry) Nadler (D-NY-10), the man who has represented the Upper West Side in Congress for the past 30 years, who made us proud (and brought a Zabar’s bag into the house chamber) during one of the Trump impeachment trials, is running for re-election against Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), the woman who has represented the Upper East Side for the past 30 years, who wore a heavy fireman’s jacket for months — to the Met Gala, even — until the 911 survivors got their legislative due, in the newly drawn 12th Congressional District.
Two “titans,” they’re being called. He, the chairman of the powerful judiciary committee, she, the chairwoman of the powerful oversight and reform committee. Two liberals — progressives, when the word had a different connotation — allies and compatriots on every issue — almost.
There are three notable exceptions: Nadler voted against the war in Iraq, Maloney voted for it, as she did for the Patriot Act, which Nadler also voted against. Nadler voted for the Iran Nuclear deal, Maloney voted against it.
Now, as a result of redistricting, which we covered in detail here, here, and here, instead of District 10, the Upper West Side belongs to the newly drawn District 12, and Nadler and Maloney will meet.
“Perhaps the most startling rearrangement came in Manhattan, an island long divided on an east-west axis,” The New York Times wrote. “…dividing it up north-south instead, throwing both Mr. Nadler and Ms. Maloney into the 12th Congressional District after three decades of serving side by side.”
“It is a disservice to the city that they’re being forced to match up against each other,” said Upper West Sider Cynthia. Roberta agreed. “This is another stupid move by the Democratic Party – killing off their own,” she said. “I’m furious at the system for creating this choice. Usually, it is a race where I don’t like both of the candidates, but that is not the case here.”
Several Upper West Siders shared that they will remain loyal to Nadler going forward. “It’s not a matter of politics,” one man said. “It’s a matter of comfort. I’m not comfortable with Maloney. I’m comfortable with Nadler.” Another resident said, “He’s been great. He’s served the community really well.” “He’s our guy,” a woman simply said.
Besides Nadler and Maloney, a third Democratic candidate for the 12th District – Suraj Patel – has emerged in the headlines. Patel, a lawyer and businessman, ran against Maloney in the old 12th District in the last two congressional primaries, losing narrowly by less than 4 points in 2020.
Notably, Patel is 38. Nadler is 74, and Maloney is 76. In his campaign video, Patel states that “we need new leadership.” In referring to the redistricting, he says that “career politicians tried to cut me out [of the district]…it backfired. Now, thanks to them, we’ve lost even more ground to Republicans.”
Some residents took issue with the redistricting not because of the ramifications of losing either Nadler or Maloney in Congress, but because they perceived there to be something fundamentally misguided about grouping West Siders and East Siders together. “They are very different populations,” one Upper West Sider said. “The West is more progressive and more artsy,” another resident explained. “The Upper West Side feels more relaxed.”
Despite the drama associated with the upcoming primary, who will prevail may boil down simply to who is able to get people out to vote when it matters. Speaking to the NY State of Politics, GOP Election Commissioner Jude Seymour commented on the effects of redistricting on NYC’s already low voter turnout rates. “I think voters are going to be very confused about which primary is for what races. And the idea that the state Assembly is on June 28 and the state Senate is on Aug. 23 is also going to be very confusing…We expect really, unfortunately, pathetically low turnout.”
Which side of the park sends more people east to the Hamptons in August, and north to the Hudson Valley and beyond, may also be a factor.
For Upper West Siders, this year’s congressional race (NY-12) is one fraught, for the first time in many decades, with deep uncertainty. Look for lots of sidewalk campaigning and national political spotlighting in the next three months.
Maloney, her office is responsive even if you are not a constituent! Nadler was MIA when my business needed help
No more Nadler
My God, they both need to go. With the state of this city and neighborhood, why would you want to keep these people still in office? They follow their own agendas and I’m tired of the same old same old that is doing nothing to improve hard working tax payers’ lives.
Re: “With the state of this city and neighborhood,….”
Civics 101 — LOCAL issues are the job of (A) CITY Council; (B) STATE Assembly and/or Senate; and even (C) COMMUNITY BOARDS hopefully…if they can ever get anything done besides holding endless meetings.
Remember former U.S. Senator D’amato, who was derided as “Senator Pothole” for bringing “pork” to his local nabe.
I pay taxes and my life is going great, what’s going on on your end that’s making you so unhappy?
I know it isn’t really their jurisdiction, but I will support whoever has the best plan to make our neighborhood safer. This is priority one, two and three for me and many others.
So… you know that crime has little or nothing to do with the actual job. Further, a Congressperson probably shouldn’t be butting their head’s into policing strategies at the local level. So pounding on crime as a Congressional issue, as the Republican against Nadler did in the 2020 race, would be demagogy. nevertheless, knowing this, you still will cast your vote based on who is most demagogic?
Please let them find something great for Carolyn Maloney to do that will help Democrats and/ or key issues – and let Nadler represent us. This conflict is such an absurd waste. He’s not perfect, but he’s more than good enough. The Iraq war vote and Patriot Act votes speak loudly – and his decades since have shown work broad and deep.
anyone who votes to bow down to the mullahs in Teheran should go. And that’s Nadler
@William Pearlman And anyone who bowed down to Putin and tore up an agreement with Iran making this a more dangerous world, needed to go…
A deal with Iran is better than No deal. I appreciate that he studied the issue and made the right choice, despite attacks from a hawkish and vocal minority in his district.
This comment gives a good reason to vote for Nadler. He knew that he would face wild attacks like this one for his Iran vote. And yet he cast a YES vote on this important (now defunct, sadly) arms control agreement.
He is willing to do what is right, no matter the political consequences. That is so rare.
And why he will get my vote, enthusiastically.
Right on cue!
https://nypost.com/2022/06/04/rep-carolyn-maloney-accuses-rep-jerry-nadler-of-sexism/
There is so much sexism, racism, etc. in the world. I really hate it when people attribute it to a situation where it is not the cause of the problem. It just takes away the legitimacy of situations where it really is relevant.
Though I was leaning towards Nadler, I was trying to be open-minded and listen to what they have to say. This really lowers my opinion of her.
Eating a bagel & lox at Barney Greengrass doesn’t qualify you to be a congressman representing the UWS.
Tell me why Patel deserves my vote?
I’m voting for Suraj because over the 30 years that Maloney and Nadler have been in office, New York has become unaffordable and unlivable for young families. We have a housing crisis and Maloney is involving herself in local land use decisions that make the situation worse. Suraj gets its – “We have a housing crisis in New York that threatens the unique nature and character of our city. No one should be forced to choose between being able to raise a family and staying in the city they love.”
You are ENTIRELY missing the point. Bother are committee chairs based on their seniority in Congress. This give each of them power to get things done, for the District, the City and the Nation. This is not the time to bring in a new person who has virtually no ranking in Congress.
Maloney is tougher on crime. Nadler wants to cut police funding. He’s said so right here on WSR. That makes him tone deaf to reality. She’s already accused Nadler of blatant sexism. #IBelieveHer
Can you please provide the link where Nadler said he wanted to cut police funding? He usually doesn’t comment on NYC budgets, which he has no say over. Thank you.
Right here, Bruce:
https://www.westsiderag.com/2020/06/07/jerry-nadler-thinks-the-nypd-budget-should-be-cut-and-hes-getting-ready-if-trump-disputes-the-election
Rather than split alliances between nadler and meloney, both should retire gracefully and give Suraj Patel the opportunity to bring in new blood to the community! Congress is a mess and new ideas are welcomed!!!
Carolyn Maloney supports Israel.
Nadler has been very iffy and weak.
Whether Maloney, Nadler, Patel or even a Republican, we need someone who can help reduce violent, rampant crimes.
Someone please say Make NY Safe Again!
I’d love to know what Suraj Patel believes in and what makes him different from the other candidates besides his age. I constantly see him mentioned as “new blood,” but what about policies?
They both need to retire. We need some new blood and new ideas on both sides of the park.
The two should retire. The two are machine politicos and generally run unopposed.
We need new voices, a fresh vision for a city that has changed so much since the two first assumed office.
Didn’t we also see a picture of Nadler sleeping in a house session recently?
Time for new congressmen. I can’t think of a single thing Nadler has done for New York City on a local office since he’s been in office
I think it stinks. We need both of them
Nadler for the win. At any rate, we need to keep an experienced representative with a committee leadership position. A youngster has no power in the House. Most of all, we need to keep Democratic control of the House. Tell all your (Democrat) friends and family nationwide to go out and vote in the mid-term elections to (re)elect Congressional Democrats.
So many here are looking to the job of a congressman to improve the quality of life in the city. You really should look first to your city councilperson, mayor, state assemblyperson, state senator and governor before your representative in the US Congress. Congress is a federal branch of government. The others are state and local and it’s their job to address local issues.
I’ve received Mr. Patel’s glossy brochures, but so far haven’t seen what if anything he’s done in public service. He should aim for another office, such as City Council, NYS legislature or a community board seat and have some achievements there before aiming for Congress.
Maloney is a lifelong and active supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment AND she’s a woman. We need more women in Congress, and we need to keep the Democratic women we already have in Congress. Women’s rights and our right to choose are constantly under attack. Never more so that in recent months. No man is ever as passionate a supporter of women’s rights as a woman is. Period. And Nadler can’t match Maloney on support of women. She has my vote always!
And yes, it’s ridiculous we are having to choose between the two.
Voting for someone simply because she is a woman is sexist. What would you respond if I were to argue, “Vote for Nadler because he is a man.” Both are equally offensive.
Nadler has an outstanding office that personally helps out people who have run into bureaucratic problems. When the Social Security Administration declared me dead and stopped sending me checks, I could not get anyone to help me out, even with repeated personal visits to the local office. SSA blamed the bank that had been sending me the checks, while the bank blamed SSA. Nadler’s office was able to quickly clear things up and have my checks sent to me. His office is always there for you.
Until we have a Democratic Senate, it hurts to lose a liberal/progressive Democrat in the House. I expect that the constituents of both will be sad to lose them. I say for each of them -“One More Term” and then let the younger lib/prog Dems have their chance. Of course, when the young ‘uns reach 70, they’ll tell you how 70 is the new 35. They won’t go without a strong push – and yet older and sicker Bernie Sanders was their candidate for prez. That ‘youth vs the old’ is beginning to sound like “The dog ate my homework” excuse. We Dems will lose either way. Who’ll stay in the Senate? Joe Manchin.
Shame on the Dems for not doing more succession planning. Hopefully there are qualified people waiting in the wings to lead either/both of their House committees
IMO, Nadler & Maloney should both drop out and draft/endorse Scott Stringer. Stringer started out working in Nadler’s office. He has political experience and progressive bona fides. He’d make a good Rep for NYC having served as Comptroller. Unlike Patel, who brings little experience to the job, Stringer already knows Albany and could be effective in DC.
This is a big mistake by Democrats — both Nadler and Maloney have been first rate reps and should not have to compete against one another. I’m sticking with Nadler.
There are three notable exceptions: Nadler voted against the war in Iraq, Maloney voted for it, as she did for the Patriot Act, which Nadler also voted against. Nadler voted for the Iran Nuclear deal, Maloney voted against it.
That says it all – Nadler’s the guy. My late husband used to call her Ms. Baloney.