West Side Clubs Host NY-12 Candidate Forum Thursday

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — A coalition of Democratic clubs on Manhattan’s West Side will host the largest candidate forum yet in the race for New York’s 12th Congressional District on Thursday evening at Bank Street College.

The event will give voters a chance to hear from 10 of the 12 candidates vying to succeed longtime Upper West Side Congressman Jerry Nadler, who is stepping down at the end of his term.

Scheduled to attend are Micah Bergdale, Alex Bores, George Conway, Laura Dunn, Jami Floyd, Micah Lasher, Alan Pardee, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Mathew Shurka.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Broadway Democrats, Hell’s Kitchen Democrats and the Columbia University College Democrats. It will be moderated by journalist and political analyst Michael Lange.

While several other NY-12 forums have already taken place — including this one, which Patch covered on the East Side — organizers said this will be the first to use a panel-style format. Each candidate will deliver three-minute opening remarks, followed by timed responses during a moderated discussion.

The event will run from 7 to 9 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Attendance is limited and advance RSVP is required here. A Zoom option will also be available for remote participants.

NY-12 includes the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, Hell’s Kitchen, Central Park, Union Square, Chelsea and Stuyvesant Town. The district is solidly Democratic, though eight Republican and independent candidates have also filed to run, according to Ballotpedia. Thursday’s forum is limited to Democratic candidates.

The Democratic primary is set for June 23, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 3.

Bank Street College is located at 610 West 112th St.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.

Update, Feb. 13: Candidate Alan Pardee was unable to attend, as he was quarantining.