George Conway, who ran for Congress on an “anti-Trump” platform, finished fifth place in the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District. The former conservative lawyer and ex-husband of President Trump’s former Senior Counselor, Kellyanne Conway, tallied approximately 6 percent with nearly 87 percent of expected votes.
Before the election, Conway was questioned about whether his anti-Trump message resonated with voters. Todd Starnes described Conway’s primary performance as “embarrassing” and “pitiful.”
The race in New York’s deep-blue district aimed to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. Conway, known for co-founding The Lincoln Project—a super PAC targeting President Trump—struggled to gain traction despite his prominent profile. His campaign faced significant challenges in a district that has consistently leaned Democratic and where high-profile candidates like Jack Schlossberg (JFK’s grandson) and Alex Bores also competed.
New York State Assemblymember Micah Lasher ultimately secured victory over seven other Democrats, but Conway’s underwhelming results highlighted the difficulty of running against strong opposition in the 12th District. The race became one of the most expensive congressional primaries nationwide, with substantial advertising spending from both sides of the political spectrum.
