Jerrold Nadler

Jerrold Nadler
Born	Jerrold Lewis Nadler 13 6, 1947
Birthplace	Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Title	U.S. Representative from New York's 12th district
Known for	Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, leading impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, sponsoring the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Education	Columbia University (B.A.) Fordham University School of Law (J.D.)
Website	[nadler.house.gov Official site]

Jerrold Lewis Nadler (born June 13, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 12th congressional district (and its predecessor districts) since 1992. A member of the Democratic Party, Nadler has represented portions of Manhattan and Brooklyn for more than three decades, making him one of the longest-serving members of New York's congressional delegation. He is perhaps best known for his tenure as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a role in which he oversaw both impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Throughout his career, Nadler has been a consistent advocate for civil liberties, consumer protection, and transportation infrastructure in the New York metropolitan area. In September 2025, Nadler announced that he would not seek re-election in 2026, bringing to a close a congressional career spanning more than 32 years.

Early Life

Jerrold Lewis Nadler was born on June 13, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York City. He grew up in a Jewish family and was raised in Brooklyn before later moving to Manhattan's Upper West Side, the area that would become the heart of his political constituency. Nadler developed an interest in politics and civic engagement at a young age, influenced by the progressive political culture of New York City during the 1960s.

As a young man, Nadler attended Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City's specialized public high schools known for its rigorous academic programs. It was at Stuyvesant that Nadler first became involved in political organizing. According to various accounts, he was a classmate of future political strategist Dick Morris during his time at the school.

Nadler's formative years in Brooklyn and Manhattan shaped his political outlook, particularly regarding issues of civil rights, urban development, and the role of government in addressing social inequality. Growing up in one of the most densely populated and diverse cities in the world provided him with firsthand exposure to the challenges facing urban communities, experiences that would later inform his legislative priorities in both the New York State Assembly and the United States Congress.

Education

Nadler attended Columbia University in New York City, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His time at Columbia coincided with a period of significant student activism on the campus during the late 1960s, a turbulent era defined by opposition to the Vietnam War and demands for civil rights reform.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Nadler pursued a legal education at Fordham University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal training provided a foundation for his later work in the legislature, particularly on the House Judiciary Committee, where questions of constitutional law, civil liberties, and federal jurisprudence are central to the committee's oversight responsibilities.

Career

New York State Assembly

Before entering federal politics, Nadler served in the New York State Assembly, representing a district on Manhattan's West Side. He was first elected to the Assembly in 1976 and served in that body for sixteen years. During his tenure in the state legislature, Nadler focused on issues of housing, transportation, and tenants' rights — concerns of particular importance to his densely populated urban district. His years in Albany gave him extensive legislative experience and helped him build a political base on the Upper West Side of Manhattan that would serve as the foundation for his congressional career.

Election to Congress

Nadler was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in a 1992 special election to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Representative Ted Weiss, who had died shortly before the general election after winning the Democratic primary. Nadler won the special election and the subsequent general election, beginning what would become more than three decades of continuous service in Congress.

Over the years, Nadler's district underwent several changes through redistricting. He initially represented New York's 17th congressional district, which was subsequently renumbered as the 8th district and later the 10th district. Following the redistricting that took place after the 2020 census, his district was designated as New York's 12th congressional district. Throughout these changes, his constituency consistently encompassed portions of Manhattan's West Side and parts of Brooklyn, areas known for their liberal political leanings.

House Judiciary Committee

Nadler's most prominent role in Congress was his service on the House Judiciary Committee, where he eventually rose to the position of chairman. The Judiciary Committee holds jurisdiction over matters related to the federal courts, constitutional amendments, immigration policy, civil liberties, and criminal law enforcement, making it one of the most consequential committees in the House.

Nadler first gained national prominence during the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton in 1998, when he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of impeachment. He argued that the charges against Clinton did not rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors" as defined by the Constitution.

First Impeachment of Donald Trump

Nadler's profile rose considerably when Democrats won control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections, and he assumed the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee in January 2019. In this role, he became a central figure in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump in 2019. The Judiciary Committee, under Nadler's leadership, drafted and approved articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden. Nadler served as one of the House managers who presented the case for impeachment to the Senate during the subsequent trial.

Second Impeachment of Donald Trump

Following the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol, Nadler and the Judiciary Committee again played a role in the second impeachment of Donald Trump, this time on a charge of incitement of insurrection. The second impeachment moved with unprecedented speed, with the House voting to impeach Trump on January 13, 2021, just one week after the Capitol breach. Trump became the only president in American history to be impeached twice.

The dual impeachment proceedings cemented Nadler's reputation as one of the leading Democratic voices on questions of executive accountability and constitutional oversight.

Legislative Priorities

Civil Liberties and Judiciary

Throughout his career, Nadler has been a consistent advocate for civil liberties and civil rights. He played a significant role in efforts to reauthorize and strengthen the Voting Rights Act and has been a leading proponent of legislation to protect LGBTQ rights, including the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Nadler has also been active in debates over surveillance policy, expressing concerns about the scope of government surveillance programs revealed by Edward Snowden and advocating for reforms to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Nadler served as the sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation designed to require employers to provide reasonable workplace accommodations for employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The act was signed into law in December 2022 as part of the omnibus spending bill.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Representing one of the most transit-dependent areas in the country, Nadler has been a persistent advocate for transportation and infrastructure funding in the New York metropolitan area. He was a key congressional supporter of the completion of the Second Avenue Subway and fought for federal funding for various transit projects. Nadler was also an outspoken opponent of the proposed Westway highway project along Manhattan's West Side, advocating instead for the development of the Hudson River Park and improved public transit options.

Antitrust and Technology

In his capacity as Judiciary Committee chairman, Nadler oversaw a landmark investigation into competition in digital markets, focusing on the market power of major technology companies including Amazon, Apple, Facebook (now Meta), and Google. The investigation culminated in a 2020 report that recommended sweeping changes to antitrust law to address the dominance of large technology platforms. This work informed subsequent legislative proposals aimed at promoting competition in the digital economy.

Later Congressional Career

2022 Primary Election

Following redistricting after the 2020 census, Nadler found himself drawn into the same congressional district as fellow longtime Democratic incumbent Carolyn Maloney, who had represented an overlapping area of Manhattan. The resulting 2022 Democratic primary was a high-profile contest between two veteran legislators. Nadler prevailed in the primary, defeating Maloney and securing the nomination for the newly drawn 12th congressional district. He went on to win the general election comfortably in the heavily Democratic district.

Continued Legislative Activity

Even in the final years of his congressional tenure, Nadler remained legislatively active. In February 2026, he joined Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Jim McGovern, Joe Morelle, and Jamie Raskin in filing an amicus brief in the case of Texas v. Bondi, arguing for the preservation of Congress's authority to set its own rules. The brief addressed legal challenges that Nadler and his colleagues viewed as threatening to the constitutional prerogatives of the legislative branch.

In February 2026, Nadler voted against the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding package, releasing a statement explaining his opposition to the bill's provisions.

Retirement Announcement

On September 2, 2025, Nadler announced that he would not seek re-election in 2026. In his statement, he 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 New York constituents. The New York Times described Nadler as "a pillar of the Democratic Party's old guard" and highlighted his role as "the ex-House Judiciary chairman who helped lead President Trump's impeachments."

Nadler's announcement triggered a crowded race to succeed him in the deeply Democratic district. By November 2025, at least eight candidates had entered the Democratic primary to replace him. In February 2026, the New York Times reported that Nadler had chosen a preferred successor and had offered his endorsement, though the ultimate outcome would be determined by voters in the Democratic primary. Republican Caroline Shinkle, a corporate lawyer with degrees from MIT and Harvard Law School, also entered the race, though the district is considered heavily Democratic.

Personal Life

Nadler has been a longtime resident of Manhattan's Upper West Side, which has been at the center of his congressional district throughout his tenure. He is Jewish and has spoken publicly about his identity and heritage on numerous occasions.

In the early 2000s, Nadler underwent gastric bypass surgery, resulting in significant weight loss that became a subject of public discussion and media coverage. He has spoken about the health challenges that led to his decision to pursue the surgery.

Nadler married Joyce Miller. The couple has one son.

Legacy

Jerrold Nadler's more than three decades in Congress place him among the longest-serving members of New York's congressional delegation and among the most tenured representatives in recent American political history. His career is defined in large part by his leadership on the House Judiciary Committee, where he served as ranking member and later chairman during some of the most consequential constitutional proceedings of the modern era, including the impeachments of two presidents.

Nadler's role in the dual impeachments of President Donald Trump — the first president to be impeached twice — ensured his place in the historical record of American constitutional governance. His work on the Judiciary Committee extended beyond impeachment to encompass antitrust enforcement, civil rights legislation, immigration policy, and oversight of the federal judiciary.

On the domestic policy front, Nadler's sponsorship of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act represented a significant legislative achievement in expanding workplace protections. His advocacy for transportation infrastructure in New York City, including support for the Second Avenue Subway and opposition to the Westway highway project, had lasting effects on the physical development of Manhattan.

The crowded field of candidates vying to succeed him following his retirement announcement reflected the significance of the seat he held and the challenge of filling a role that Nadler occupied for over 32 years. In announcing his retirement, Nadler spoke of the honor of having served his constituents, bringing to a close one of the most consequential congressional careers in recent New York political history.