Michael Bloomberg is backing his former aide Assemblyman Micah Lasher in New York's 12th Congressional District race with a $5 million super PAC spending blitz. The billionaire former mayor publicly endorsed Lasher Thursday and plans to fund mail, TV, and digital ads to boost his former aide's campaign to replace retiring Representative Jerrold Nadler.

The intervention comes as Democrats compete for the safely blue but wealthy Manhattan district that includes Midtown, Broadway, and media hubs. The field features notable contenders including Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and George Conway, a former Trump supporter turned critic. Polls show Schlossberg and Conway leading in name recognition, with no candidate above 25 percent support.

Bloomberg's backing could prove decisive in the June primary, where the district's donor-rich environment has already attracted millions in outside spending. The former mayor remains popular in the district that includes his Upper East Side home and business headquarters. His involvement underscores how New York's political establishment is aligning behind Lasher, while rival factions in the AI industry have also poured money into the race, primarily targeting other candidates.