NY-12: Candidates split on Israel, clash over billionaire bucks in latest debate to replace Nadler

The Democratic candidates vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler clashed Tuesday night over Israel, artificial intelligence and billionaire influence, in a debate that underscored the unsettled state of the NY-12 primary and left Assembly Member Alex Bores facing the most sustained attacks from his rivals.

The Spectrum News NY1/WNYC debate at Baruch College brought together Bores, attorney George Conway, Assembly Member Micah Lasher, Kennedy family heir Jack Schlossberg, and public health expert Nina Schwalbe. The candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination in Manhattan’s 12th Congressional District, a seat Nadler has held since 1992 in the city’s wealthiest district.

The debate came as the race remains fluid. A mix of public, campaign-sponsored and outside-group polling has shown Bores, Lasher and Schlossberg each leading at least one survey, with the most recent poll listed — an Emerson College survey for Nexstar/PIX11 conducted May 16 to 17 — showing Lasher narrowly ahead of Bores, 22% to 20%.

The sharpest policy split of the night came over U.S. military aid to Israel. Asked whether they would support the Block the Bombs Act, a House measure aimed at restricting certain offensive weapons transfers to Israel unless the Israeli government certified their use complied with U.S. and international law, Schwalbe and Schlossberg said yes. Lasher, Conway, and Bores said no.



https://www.amny.com/news/ny-12-candidates-split-on-israel/