In a significant political realignment, George Conway, the prominent conservative lawyer and former Republican, has officially launched a campaign for the United States Congress as a member of the Democratic Party. Conway, best known as a fierce critic of Donald Trump and the ex-husband of former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, is vying to represent New York's 12th congressional district.
From Republican Insider to Democratic Challenger
Conway announced his bid with a sharply worded video on Tuesday, 17 July 2024, framing his candidacy as a direct challenge to the political forces of former President Trump. He declared the current political moment as "no ordinary time" and promised he would not be an "ordinary member of Congress."
In his announcement, Conway did not mince words, labelling Trump a "corrupt president, a mendacious president, a criminal president" and accusing him of running the federal government "like a mob protection racket." He stated, "I know how to fight these people. They are corrupt, amoral people. They will stop at nothing to rig the system for themselves. I've been fighting Trump for years and nothing will stop me."
Conway's political journey has been dramatic. Early in Trump's first term, he was considered for the role of solicitor general while his then-wife, Kellyanne, served as a senior White House adviser. However, he grew increasingly vocal in his opposition to Trump, co-founding the high-profile anti-Trump Republican group, the Lincoln Project, ahead of the 2020 election.
A Crowded Race for a Manhattan Seat
Conway enters a highly competitive Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by the long-serving Representative Jerry Nadler. As of December, at least nine other candidates had already entered the race, setting the stage for a contentious battle.
The field includes several notable figures:
- Jack Schlossberg, a social media personality and grandson of former President John F. Kennedy.
- New York State Assembly members Alex Bores and Micah Lasher.
- Activist Cameron Kasky, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting.
This diverse pool of contenders will be competing for the Democratic nomination in a district that covers parts of Manhattan.
Personal and Political Divergence
Conway's career shift underscores a profound personal and political rift that became public. His divorce from Kellyanne Conway was finalised in March 2023. While George Conway became one of the Republican party's most prominent anti-Trump voices, Kellyanne Conway remained a key ally to the former president, even speaking at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
The couple's political differences were further highlighted by their teenage daughter, Claudia Conway, who gained attention for her outspoken online criticism of both parents' views. In August 2020, George Conway stepped back from the Lincoln Project, citing a need to focus on family matters, around the same time Kellyanne announced her departure from the Trump administration.
In his campaign video, Conway acknowledged the personal cost of his political stance, saying, "as a former Republican, now a Democrat, I fought Trump publicly in every way I could and I paid a price. I'll never regret standing up to Trump." He framed his congressional run as a continuation of that fight, pledging to protect the rights and economic needs of New Yorkers and to pass laws safeguarding American democracy from autocracy.
The race for New York's 12th district is now poised to be one of the most closely watched contests of the election cycle, symbolising the ongoing ideological battles within American politics.
