Jerry Nadler

Jerry Nadler
Born	Jerrold Lewis Nadler 6/13/1947
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, leading impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump
Education	Fordham University (JD)
Children	1
Website	https://nadler.house.gov/

Jerrold Lewis Nadler (born June 13, 1947), known as Jerry Nadler, is an American lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York since 1992. A member of the Democratic Party and a lifelong resident of Manhattan's Upper West Side, Nadler has been one of the most enduring figures in New York City politics for nearly five decades. He served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023, a role in which he led two impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Before his election to Congress, Nadler served eight terms in the New York State Assembly, beginning in 1977. He represents New York's 12th congressional district, which covers both the west and east sides of Manhattan from 14th Street to 110th Street. As the dean of New York's U.S. House delegation, Nadler is known for his liberal voting record and deep ties to his constituents. In September 2025, Nadler announced that he would not seek reelection in 2026, marking the end of a congressional career spanning more than three decades.

Early Life

Jerrold Lewis Nadler was born on June 13, 1947, in New York City. He grew up in the city and became deeply rooted in the political and civic culture of Manhattan's Upper West Side, a neighborhood with which he would become closely identified throughout his political career.

Nadler's mother, Miriam Nadler, was a resident of New York City.

As a young man, Nadler developed an interest in politics and public service. His formative years in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s shaped his progressive political outlook. He attended public schools in the city before pursuing higher education at Columbia University and later at Fordham University School of Law.

Education

Nadler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in New York City. He subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law. His legal training would provide the foundation for his later focus on constitutional and judiciary matters during his congressional career. While at Columbia, Nadler was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.

Career

New York State Assembly (1977–1992)

Nadler began his career in elected office in 1977, when he won a seat in the New York State Assembly representing the 69th district. He succeeded Albert H. Blumenthal in the Assembly. Following redistricting, he represented the 67th district from 1983 onward. During his eight terms in the State Assembly, Nadler established himself as a reliable liberal voice in Albany and built a strong political base on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Nadler served in the Assembly for sixteen years, from January 1, 1977, until November 3, 1992, when he departed to take his seat in the United States Congress. He was succeeded in the Assembly by Scott Stringer, who would go on to become Manhattan Borough President and later New York City Comptroller.

Election to Congress (1992)

Nadler's path to Congress opened in 1992 following the death of Representative Ted Weiss, who died on the eve of the general election in September of that year. Nadler won a special election and then the general election to succeed Weiss, representing what was then New York's 17th congressional district. The New York Times described his ascent to Congress as a moment when persistence paid off for the longtime state legislator who had been deeply embedded in New York Democratic politics for years.

From 1992 until 2022, Nadler's district covered the west side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. The district was renumbered several times through successive rounds of redistricting — it was designated the 17th district from 1992 to 1993, the 8th district from 1993 to 2013, and the 10th district from 2013 to 2023. Since 2023, following the most recent redistricting cycle, Nadler has represented the 12th district, which encompasses both the west and east sides of Manhattan from 14th Street to 110th Street.

House Judiciary Committee

Nadler's most prominent role in Congress has been his service on the House Judiciary Committee, where he rose through the ranks to become one of the panel's most influential members. He became the Ranking Member of the committee in December 2017, succeeding John Conyers, who had resigned from Congress. Nadler served as Ranking Member until January 2019, when Democrats took control of the House of Representatives.

With the Democratic majority established following the 2018 midterm elections, Nadler became Chair of the House Judiciary Committee in January 2019, succeeding Bob Goodlatte as chairman. He held the chairmanship through January 2023, a period that encompassed some of the most consequential proceedings in the committee's history.

First Impeachment of Donald Trump (2019)

As Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Nadler played a central role in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump in 2019. In November 2018, following the midterm elections that gave Democrats control of the House, Nadler stated publicly that there was evidence of "impeachable offenses" by the president, signaling early on the direction the committee would take under his leadership. The Judiciary Committee conducted hearings and ultimately approved articles of impeachment against Trump related to his dealings with Ukraine, which the full House subsequently voted to approve.

Second Impeachment of Donald Trump (2021)

Nadler and the Judiciary Committee also played a role in the second impeachment of President Trump in January 2021, following the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. The committee was involved in drafting the article of impeachment charging Trump with incitement of insurrection, which the House approved in a rapid process.

The New York Times described Nadler as a "pillar of Democratic Party's old guard" who "helped lead President Trump's impeachments," underscoring his central role in these historic proceedings.

Return to Ranking Member

When Republicans regained control of the House following the 2022 midterm elections, Nadler returned to the position of Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee in January 2023, as Jim Jordan assumed the chairmanship. Nadler served as Ranking Member until January 2025, when he was succeeded by Jamie Raskin.

Legislative Work and Committee Memberships

Throughout his time in Congress, Nadler has been associated with a liberal voting record and has focused on civil liberties, constitutional law, and judiciary matters. He has been a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Nadler was also a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, reflecting his interest in arts and cultural policy.

In March 2019, Nadler was among those who voted on legislation to override President Trump's veto of a resolution that would have blocked his declaration of a national emergency at the southern border. The override effort failed in the House.

As of early 2026, Nadler continued to be active in legislative work. In January 2026, he introduced a resolution opposing elective cat declawing, which he described as reflecting a growing consensus among veterinary professionals and animal welfare advocates. In February 2026, he delivered floor remarks on the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, continuing to weigh in on major legislative debates in his final term.

Dean of New York Delegation

As the longest-serving member of the New York congressional delegation, Nadler holds the title of dean of New York's U.S. House delegation. This position is an informal designation conferred upon the most senior member and carries a degree of influence and respect within the state's delegation and in House proceedings.

Retirement Announcement (2025)

On September 1, 2025, Nadler announced that he would not seek reelection in 2026. In a statement released by his office, Nadler reflected on his more than 32 years of service in Congress, saying, "For more than 32 years, I have had the honor" of representing his district.

The announcement was described by City & State New York as leaving a "highly anticipated void in Manhattan politics," noting that Nadler was "a giant of Upper West Side politics" whose retirement signaled an opening for a younger generation of ambitious Manhattan politicians. The New York Times similarly characterized him as a "pillar of Democratic Party's old guard," noting his significance as the former House Judiciary chairman who had led the impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Nadler's retirement triggered a competitive Democratic primary for New York's 12th congressional district. Among those who entered the race were Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and attorney George Conway, who was previously married to former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. An early poll commissioned in March 2026 showed Schlossberg leading in the race to succeed Nadler.

Personal Life

Nadler has been a lifelong resident of Manhattan's Upper West Side, a neighborhood he has represented in various capacities since the 1970s. In 1976, he married Joyce Miller. Their wedding was reported in The New York Times. The couple has one child.

Nadler is known for his strong connection to his district and has maintained close ties with his constituents throughout his decades in office. City & State New York described his political presence on the Upper West Side as that of "a giant," reflecting the depth of his local engagement over a career spanning nearly fifty years in elected office.

Recognition

Nadler's most significant position of recognition was his service as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023, one of the most powerful committee chairmanships in the U.S. House of Representatives. In that role, he oversaw two presidential impeachment proceedings, placing him in a small group of congressional leaders in American history to have led such efforts.

As the dean of New York's congressional delegation, Nadler holds the informal but respected distinction of being the longest-serving member of one of the largest state delegations in Congress.

Legacy

Nadler's career in elected office spans nearly half a century, beginning with his election to the New York State Assembly in 1976 and continuing through his announced retirement from Congress effective at the end of his current term. His tenure on the House Judiciary Committee, particularly his chairmanship during the Trump impeachment proceedings, represents the most prominent aspect of his legacy in national politics.

His retirement announcement in September 2025 was treated by major media outlets as a significant political event. The New York Times described him as a "pillar" of the Democratic Party's old guard, while City & State New York characterized his departure as creating a "highly anticipated void" in Manhattan politics. The competitive primary that emerged to succeed him, attracting candidates such as Jack Schlossberg and George Conway, reflected the significance of the seat he had held for more than three decades.

Throughout his career, Nadler maintained a consistent liberal record, focusing on constitutional rights, civil liberties, and judiciary matters. His deep roots on Manhattan's Upper West Side and his long tenure in both the State Assembly and Congress made him one of the most durable figures in New York Democratic politics of his era.