Jack Schlossberg Reveals Sister's Dying Wish: 'You Better Win' Congressional Race
Jack Schlossberg has revealed that his late older sister Tatiana told him he 'better win' his congressional race before she died. The 33-year-old candidate, who is seeking to represent New York's 12th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, shared that his sister had been deeply supportive of his political endeavor and pushed him to secure victory before her passing.
'She's Still Rooting for Us'
In an emotional interview with CBS News on Sunday, Schlossberg stated: 'I can tell you now that she's still rooting for us. The last thing that she said to me was, "You better win." No one knew me better, and I knew no one better than her.' This poignant revelation comes as Schlossberg continues his campaign just two weeks after his sister's death on December 30.
Tatiana's Tragic Diagnosis
Tatiana Schlossberg, the 35-year-old granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, had shared her acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis just six weeks before her death. The New York-born environmental journalist revealed in November that doctors diagnosed her in May 2024. Writing in the New Yorker, Tatiana explained she had no symptoms and considered herself 'one of the healthiest people I knew' when the shock diagnosis came. Doctors only discovered the disease through routine blood tests after she gave birth to her second child.
Running on His Own Terms
Despite his famous lineage as the grandson of JFK, Schlossberg emphasized he would be running his campaign through his own values and beliefs. He told CBS: 'People can think whatever they like. But I'm me. I'm Jack Schlossberg. And I'm proud of where I come from, but that's not the only thing about me. I'm my own person, so you can count on me to think for myself.'
Political Strategy and Social Media Savvy
When announcing his candidacy on November 11, Schlossberg told The New York Times: 'I think that this district needs somebody who knows how to fight effectively in this new political era that we're living in.' He argued that Democrats 'need to specifically elect people who both get policy and know how to break through in new media, because it's a toxic, polluted ecosystem, thanks to the president.'
The candidate has gained significant attention through a series of social media videos that have amassed approximately two million followers. 'You need to be aggressive right now to get your message through,' he explained to CBS.
Controversial Tactics and Criticism
Schlossberg has not shied away from controversy, bashing President Trump and the current administration. When asked if he crossed a line by posting a photoshopped image involving Vice President JD Vance's wife and children, he responded: 'I think what's crossing a line is the propaganda that we see issued every single day by the White House and Vance. So, what are we gonna do – hold back? Hold back on our sense of humor and not tease them, make fun of them back?'
He added: 'You can point at anything I posted, I will point you back at a president who shares pictures of himself bombing U.S. citizens with fecal matter. This is a new era we're living in.'
Campaign Challenges and Staff Changes
Schlossberg's campaign faced early turbulence when his campaign manager Annabel Lassally stepped down in December, as confirmed to Politico. However, a campaign spokesperson remained optimistic: 'We continue to grow post-launch as the only campaign focused on local issues and progressive policy. We will be announcing our new campaign headquarters very soon. It's all systems go!'
Other key staffers have remained, including finance director Paige Phillips, an alum of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign, and Eli Hinerfeld, a former deputy campaign manager for New York City Comptroller candidate Justin Brannan. They have highlighted Schlossberg's social media expertise as a crucial advantage and defended some of his more unconventional tactics.
Vision for New York
Schlossberg outlined his approach to representing New York, telling CBS it was time to 'take the gloves off.' He criticized what he perceives as unfair treatment: 'You know what they're doing to New York? They're cutting off the funding that supports all the infrastructure for this city. They're making New York and other blue states pay more just because they don't like us. And what, I'm not supposed to make fun of JD Vance and his family? Why?'
As he continues his campaign with his sister's final words motivating him, Schlossberg represents both a connection to political legacy and a new approach to digital-era politics.
