George Conway, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump and a prominent Never Trumper, officially filed Monday to run for Congress in Manhattan as a Democrat, marking the latest chapter in his full political break from the Republican Party.
According to the New York Post, Conway is seeking election in New York’s 12th Congressional District, a reliably Democratic seat that has been held for decades by Rep. Jerrold Nadler. Nadler announced in September that he will not seek reelection in 2026, opening the door to a crowded and high-profile Democratic primary in one of the bluest districts in the country.
Conway is best known nationally as a co-founder of The Lincoln Project, the anti-Trump group that positioned itself as a voice of “principled conservatism” while relentlessly attacking Trump and his supporters. Over the years, Conway became a constant presence in media circles, accusing Trump of constitutional violations, ethical misconduct, and undermining democratic norms.
Once a Republican insider, Conway’s transformation into a full-time Trump antagonist placed him firmly at odds with the GOP base. Despite being considered for several roles in Trump’s first administration, Conway ultimately declined to serve and instead emerged as one of the president’s most outspoken critics from the right, or at least what he described as the right.
Conway was married for 22 years to Kellyanne Conway, who served as Trump’s campaign manager and later as a senior White House counselor during Trump’s first term. The couple, who share four children, divorced in 2023. While Kellyanne Conway became one of Trump’s most visible defenders, George Conway took the opposite path, publicly attacking the administration she served in.
By running as a Democrat in Manhattan, Conway is now abandoning any remaining pretense of Republican affiliation. The district he is targeting is considered one of the safest Democratic seats in the nation, meaning the real battle will take place in the primary rather than the general election. Whoever wins the Democratic primary is widely expected to cruise to victory in November.
Conway will be entering an already crowded race filled with well-connected and progressive candidates. Among the declared contenders is Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, whose famous last name alone guarantees national attention. Also running is Cameron Kasky, a prominent activist with the gun-control group March for Our Lives.
The field also includes multiple experienced New York politicians, such as state Assembly members Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, as well as New York City Council member Erik Bottcher. With so many candidates vying for the seat, the primary is expected to be expensive, aggressive, and ideologically competitive.
Conway’s candidacy is likely to appeal to anti-Trump Democrats and media figures who have long embraced him as a conservative willing to attack his own party. At the same time, his history as a Republican and his association with elite political circles may complicate his appeal to the progressive base that dominates Democratic primaries in Manhattan.
Still, Conway’s move underscores a broader political realignment, as Never Trump Republicans continue to find a more welcoming home within today’s Democratic Party. Whether Manhattan Democrats are eager to reward a former Republican turned professional Trump critic remains to be seen, but Conway is now officially in the race.
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