On Tuesday, nearly 10 months later, Mr. Nadler faces his first Democratic primary challenger in two decades. His opponent, political upstart Oliver Rosenberg, has placed Mr. Nadlers support of the Iran deal at the center of the battle.
Many people in the district felt betrayed, Mr. Rosenberg, who worked as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. before launching a technology startup, said in an interview. This is their opportunity to send a message.
Mr. Nadler, who was first elected to the House in 1992, said he stood by his decision to support the Iran deal and didnt believe it would cost him his partys nomination.
I do not regret that vote, he said. There are occasionally votes where you just have to put the politics out of your mind and do the right thing.
The nuclear deal, which is intended to prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons in exchange for relief on economic sanctions, is deeply unpopular among Jewish voters, especially those in the Orthodox community, who say the agreement will make Israel and the Middle East less safe.
Jewish voters make up a significant portion of New Yorks 10th congressional district, which includes a largely Orthodox community in Brooklyns Borough Park and a more liberal Jewish bloc on Manhattans Upper West Side. The district comprises much of Manhattans West Side and the Financial District.
According to political observers, the 69-year-old Mr. Nadler is likely to win re-election and holds significant advantages as an incumbent. He has locked up many high-profile endorsements, including Mr. Obamas, and is outspending Mr. Rosenberg by more than two to one.
As of June 8, Mr. Nadler had raised nearly $1.4 million, a large sum for an incumbent in a seat generally considered to be safe. Mr. Rosenberg, 30, had raised a little more than $54,000, much of it from donors in California, where he grew up.
In the past week, Mr. Nadlers campaign distributed a flier to voters describing Mr. Rosenberg as dishonest, dirty and deplorable. The flier also alleges Mr. Rosenberg is a Democrat in name only, showing a screenshot of an email from Mr. Rosenberg as proof.
As the district is 82% Democrat, the only chance of winning is as a Democrat, Mr. Rosenberg wrote.
Mr. Rosenbergs campaign has robocalls featuring Jackie Mason, a Jewish comedian.
You know what happens to the Jews? The Jews are facing the Hydrogen bomb. No decent person would vote for Jerry Nadler, Mr. Mason says in one of the calls. In another, he questions Mr. Nadlers Jewish identity.
In response, Mr. Nadler said the robocalls represent a new low and he called Mr. Mason a right-wing hack.
This is what happens when you dont get traction, he said.
In interviews with about three dozen people on the Upper West Side this week, fewer than 10 said they were aware of Tuesdays primary. But some voters cited their anger at Mr. Nadler, if not outright support for Rosenberg, as a driving force pushing them to the polls.
State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a Democrat who represents parts of Mr. Nadlers district, said he had decided to vote for Mr. Rosenberg largely because of Mr. Nadlers vote on the nuclear deal.
The Iran deal was a defining moment. Jerry Nadler made it kosherhe gave the green light to other members of Congress from New York to support it, said Mr. Hikind, who is Jewish. I was extremely disappointed and I was also sad. And now I have an opportunity to send a message.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, who is Jewish and voted against the Iran deal, is backing Mr. Nadler. In a campaign flier, Mr. Schumer calls Mr. Nadler an extraordinary legislator and leader.
This article was written by Mara Gay for The Wall Street Journal on June 24, 2016.
# Tags
Latest News
Most viewed
