Jerry Nadler

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jerry Nadler

| image = Jerry Nadler 116th Congress official portrait (cropped).jpg

| office = Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee

| term_start = January 3, 2023

| term_end = January 3, 2025

| predecessor = Jim Jordan

| successor = Jamie Raskin

| term_start1 = December 20, 2017

| term_end1 = January 3, 2019

| predecessor1 = John Conyers

| successor1 = Doug Collins

| office2 = Chair of the House Judiciary Committee

| term_start2 = January 3, 2019

| term_end2 = January 3, 2023

| predecessor2 = Bob Goodlatte

| successor2 = Jim Jordan

| state3 = New York

| term_start3 = November 3, 1992

| term_end3 =

| predecessor3 = Ted Weiss

| successor3 =

| constituency3 = {{ushr|NY|17|c}} {{nowrap|(1992–1993)}}
{{ushr|NY|8|c}} {{nowrap|(1993–2013)}}
{{ushr|NY|10|c}} {{nowrap|(2013–2023)}}
{{ushr|NY|12|c}} {{nowrap|(2023–present)}}

| office4 = Member of the New York State Assembly

| term_start4 = January 1, 1977

| term_end4 = November 3, 1992

| predecessor4 = Albert H. Blumenthal

| successor4 = Scott Stringer

| constituency4 = 69th district (1977–1982)
67th district (1983–1992)

| birth_name = Jerrold Lewis Nadler

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|6|13}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = {{marriage|Josephine Langsdorr Miller|1976}}

| children = 1

| education = Columbia University (BA)
Fordham University (JD)

| website = {{url|nadler.house.gov|House website}}

| signature = Jerrold Nadler Signature.svg

| signature_alt = Cursive signature in ink

| module = {{Listen

|pos = center

|embed = yes

|filename = Rep. Jerry Nadler on Deceased Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.ogg

|title = Nadler's voice

|type = speech

|description = Nadler on former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo
Recorded January 12, 2015}}

| caption = Official portrait, 2019

}}

Jerrold Lewis Nadler ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|æ|d|l|ər}}; born June 13, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician from the state of New York. A Manhattan resident and a member of the Democratic Party, he has served as the U.S. representative for {{ushr|NY|12}} since 2023. Nadler was first elected to Congress in 1992 to represent the state's {{ushr|NY|17|d}}; that district was renumbered as the {{ushr|NY|8|c}} in 1993 and as the {{ushr|NY|10|r}} in 2013. Before his election to Congress, he served eight terms as a New York state assemblyman. Nadler is the dean of New York's U.S. House delegation and is known for his liberal record.

Early life, education, and early political career

Nadler was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, the son of Miriam ({{née|Schreiber}}) and Emanuel "Max" Nadler.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/13/archives/joyce-miller-is-wed-to-jerrold-nadler.html|title=Joyce Miller Is Wed To Jerrold Nadler|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 13, 1976|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107190913/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/13/archives/joyce-miller-is-wed-to-jerrold-nadler.html|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=miriam-nadler&pid=183207817&fhid=2088|title=Miriam Nadler|website=Legacy.com|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193057/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=miriam-nadler&pid=183207817&fhid=2088|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live}} Nadler described his father as a "dyed-in-the-wool Democrat" who lost his poultry farm in New Jersey when the younger Nadler was seven. In his youth, he attended Crown Heights Yeshiva; as of 2018, he was the only member of Congress with a yeshiva education.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/meet-jerry-nadler-next-house-judiciary-chairman-trumps-new-enemy-no-1|website=rollcall.com|title=Meet Jerry Nadler, the Next House Judiciary Chairman and Trump's New Enemy No. 1|last1=Connolly|first1=Griffin|date=2018-11-09|access-date=2019-11-26|last2=Connolly|first2=Griffin|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121011407/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/meet-jerry-nadler-next-house-judiciary-chairman-trumps-new-enemy-no-1|archive-date=November 21, 2019|url-status=live}} He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1965.{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=n000002 |title=Nadler, Jerrold Lewis |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707072736/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=n000002 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |url-status=live }} In high school, his debate team partner was future philosopher of science Alexander Rosenberg and Dick Morris managed his successful campaign for student government president.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuyvesant.ourstrongband.org/PDFs/Letter%20Fall02.pdf |format=PDF format |title=President's Letter |publisher=The Campaign for Stuyvesant |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028201615/http://www.stuyvesant.ourstrongband.org/PDFs/Letter%20Fall02.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |url-status=usurped }}

Nadler received his B.A. in 1969 from Columbia University,{{Cite web|last=Fastenberg|first=Daniel|date=June 2006|title=Liberal ... and Proud of It|url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/may_jun06/features2.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208160458/https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/may_jun06/features2.html|archive-date=February 8, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Columbia College Today}} where he became a brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi.{{cite web|title=Notable Alumni|url=http://www.aepi.org/about-aepi/notable-alumni/|publisher=Alpha Epsilon Pi|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219154241/http://www.aepi.org/about-aepi/notable-alumni/|archive-date=February 19, 2014|url-status=live}} After graduating from Columbia, Nadler worked as a legal assistant and clerk, first with Corporation Trust Company in 1970, then the Morris, Levin and Shein law firm in 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/26980/jerry-nadler|title=Jerry Nadler's Biography|website=Vote Smart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505050517/https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/26980/jerry-nadler|archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2020}} In 1972, Nadler was a legislative assistant in the New York State Assembly before becoming shift manager at the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, a position he held until becoming a law clerk with Morgan, Finnegan, Pine, Foley and Lee in 1976.

While attending evening courses at the Fordham University School of Law, Nadler was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1976. He completed his J.D. at Fordham in 1978.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/25/nyregion/man-in-the-news-persistence-pays-off-jerrold-lewis-nadler.html|title=Man in the News; Persistence Pays Off: Jerrold Lewis Nadler|work=The New York Times|date=September 25, 1992|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505045930/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/25/nyregion/man-in-the-news-persistence-pays-off-jerrold-lewis-nadler.html|archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live}}

New York State Assembly

Nadler was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1977 to 1992, sitting in the 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th and 189th New York State Legislatures.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In 1985, Nadler ran for Manhattan Borough President. He lost the Democratic primary to David Dinkins.{{Cite news |last=Barbanel |first=Josh |date=1985-09-11 |title=Dinkins Is Victorious, Setting Stage To Return a Black to Estimate Board |pages=4 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/11/nyregion/dinkins-is-victorious-setting-stage-to-return-a-black-to-estimate-board.html |access-date=2022-08-28}} In the general election, he ran as the New York Liberal Party nominee, and again lost to Dinkins.{{Cite news |date=1985-11-07 |title=The '85 Elections; Election Results in Voting Tuesday in City and on Long Island; Vote Totals for the Elections Held in New York and New Jersey |pages=6 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/07/nyregion/85-elections-election-results-voting-tuesday-city-long-island-vote-totals-for.html |access-date=2022-08-28}}

In 1989, he ran for New York City Comptroller, but lost to Kings County D.A. and former U.S. representative Elizabeth Holtzman in the Democratic primary.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Nadler founded and chaired the Assembly Subcommittee on Mass Transit and Rail Freight.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

U.S. House of Representatives

= Elections =

In 1992, Democratic representative Ted Weiss was expected to run for reelection in the 8th district, which had been renumbered from the 17th after the 1990 U.S. Census. However, Weiss died a day before the primary election, and Nadler was nominated to replace Weiss. He ran in two elections on Election Day — a special election to serve the rest of Weiss's eighth term in the old 17th district, and a regular election for a full two-year term in the new 8th district. He won both handily.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Nadler's district was renumbered as the {{ushr|NY|8|c}} in 1993. The district was renumbered the 10th district in 2013.{{cn|date=April 2025}} From 2013 to 2023, the 10th district included Manhattan's west side from the Upper West Side down to Battery Park, including the World Trade Center; the Manhattan neighborhoods of Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen and Greenwich Village; and parts of Brooklyn, such as Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Bay Ridge. It includes many of New York City's most popular tourist attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, New York Stock Exchange, Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park.{{cite web |url=http://www.plannyc.com/feeds/lower_manhattan.xml |title=PlanNYC: World Trade Center Redevelopment News |access-date= November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928175515/http://www.plannyc.com/feeds/lower_manhattan.xml |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2003/WTC_report_20030821.pdf |format=PDF format |title=EPA's Response to the World Trade Center Collapse: Challenges, Successes, and Areas for Improvement Report No. 2003-P-00012 |date=August 21, 2003 |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114825/http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2003/WTC_report_20030821.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Nadler faced a primary challenge from activist Lindsey Boylan; the election was the first time in his tenure that Nadler received less than 75% of the vote.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/23/us/elections/results-new-york-house-district-10-primary-election.html|title = New York Primary Election Results: 10th Congressional District|newspaper = The New York Times|date = July 6, 2020}}

In 2022, Nadler defeated his longtime House colleague Carolyn Maloney in a three-way Democratic primary with 56% of the vote after he and Maloney were both drawn into the {{ushr|NY|12|newly-drawn 12th district}} during redistricting.Nicholas Fandos. (23 August 2022). "Nadler Routs Maloney in Marquee Showdown of Bruising New York Primaries". [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/nyregion/new-york-primary-nadler.html NY Times website] Retrieved 27 August 2022. Nadler won the 2022 general election in the 12 district as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-new-york-us-house-district-12.html|title=New York 12th Congressional District Election Results|date=November 8, 2022|via=NYTimes.com}}

= Tenure =

File:Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Michelle Obama (4193003123).jpg Michelle Obama in 2009]]

File:2017-01-28 - Nydia Velazquez and Jerry Nadler at the protest at JFK (81297).jpg at the 2017 John F. Kennedy International Airport protest]]

Nadler is the ranking member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure committees.{{Cite web|url=https://judiciary.house.gov/|title=Committee on the Judiciary - Democrats|website=Committee on the Judiciary - Democrats|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210132923/https://judiciary.house.gov/|archive-date=December 10, 2019|url-status=live}}

Despite earlier efforts to impeach George W. BushTurner, Douglas (February 27, 2006). "Working Up the Nerve Toward 'Impeachment'". The Buffalo News. p. A.6. and more recent requests from fellow representatives, he did not schedule hearings on impeachments for Bush or Dick Cheney, saying in 2007 that doing so would be pointless and would distract from the presidential election.Bellantoni, Christina (April 6, 2007). "Liberals Push to Impeach Bush; Key Democrats Balk at Timing". The Washington Times. p. A.01. {{ISSN|0732-8494}}. In an interview in Washington Journal on July 15, 2008, Nadler reiterated the timing argument and endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, saying that electing an honest candidate would create a greater chance of prosecuting those in the Bush administration who had committed war crimes.{{cite news |title=Detainee Interrogations Hearing Today {{!}} C-SPAN.org |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?206195-5/detainee-interrogations-hearing-today&event=206195 |access-date=November 24, 2019 |work=C-SPAN |date=July 15, 2008 |language=en-us |time=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227103630/https://www.c-span.org/video/?206195-5%2Fdetainee-interrogations-hearing-today&event=206195 |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |url-status=live }}

Nadler chaired the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

On a similar note, referring to hypothetical impeachment proceedings against President Trump that would begin in the newly elected Democrat-controlled House, he suggested a "three-pronged test" that "would make for a legitimate impeachment proceeding". Such a test would include "the offenses in question must be so grave", and "the evidence so clear", that "even some supporters of the president concede that impeachment is necessary". If it was determined that the president committed an impeachable offense, lawmakers must consider if such an offense would "rise to the gravity where it's worth putting the country through the trauma of an impeachment proceeding," Nadler said.{{cite web |last1=Oprysko |first1=Caitlin |title=House Dem: Impeaching Trump on party lines would 'tear the country apart' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/26/nadler-evidence-impeachable-offense-trump-1014702 |website=Politico |date=November 26, 2018 |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126174912/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/26/nadler-evidence-impeachable-offense-trump-1014702 |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}

On September 24, 2019, Representative Lance Gooden proposed a resolution to remove Nadler from his position as chair of the House Judiciary committee, accusing him of unlawfully beginning impeachment proceedings before the House had given the committee authorization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gop-congressman-issues-resolution-to-remove-nadler-as-house-judiciary-chairman|title=GOP congressman issues resolution to remove Nadler as House Judiciary chairman|date=September 24, 2019|website=Washington Examiner|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926142455/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gop-congressman-issues-resolution-to-remove-nadler-as-house-judiciary-chairman|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/462808-gop-lawmaker-introduces-measure-to-remove-nadler-as-judiciary-chairman|title=GOP lawmaker introduces measure to remove Nadler as Judiciary chairman|first=Regina|last=Zilbermints|date=September 24, 2019|website=The Hill|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926142455/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/462808-gop-lawmaker-introduces-measure-to-remove-nadler-as-judiciary-chairman|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}

Nadler served as an impeachment manager (prosecutor) during the first impeachment trial of President Trump.{{cite web |title=List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/ |website=history.house.gov |publisher=United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives |access-date=5 July 2023 |language=en}}

For his tenure as chair of the House Judiciary Committee in the 116th Congress, Nadler earned an "A" grade from the non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-06 |title=House Committee on Judiciary |url=https://oversight-index.thelugarcenter.org/committee-81fc0ec4-c7af-4193-966f-a6a89f63b522/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-02-09 |website=Congressional Oversight Hearing Index |publisher=The Lugar Center |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208160534/https://oversight-index.thelugarcenter.org/committee-81fc0ec4-c7af-4193-966f-a6a89f63b522/ }}

PolitiFact criticized Nadler for incorrectly claiming following the Kenosha unrest shooting that Kyle Rittenhouse had taken a gun across state lines and might thus be subject to a federal Department of Justice review, when in fact he had not.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/nov/26/jerrold-nadler/nadler-wrong-claim-rittenhouse-crossed-state-line-/|title=Nadler wrong on claim Rittenhouse crossed state line with gun before shooting at Kenosha protest|access-date=November 29, 2021|date=November 26, 2021|author=Laura Schulte|work=Politifact}}

Nadler is the dean of New York's congressional delegation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/21/molly-jong-fast-challenge-jerry-nadler-new-york-00205464|title=Molly Jong-Fast is thinking about challenging Jerry Nadler|first=Jeff|last=Coltin|date=February 21, 2025|website=POLITICO}}

On May 28, 2025 an aide at Nadler's district office in New York City was detained and handcuffed by Department of Homeland Security officers. The officers accused Nadler's staffers of "harboring rioters" and demanded access to his office, claiming that they didn't need a warrant, which Nadler says is incorrect. After the officers conducted a security check of the office, the aide was later released with no charges filed and Nadler is demanding that there be a congressional investigation into the incident and that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testify.{{Citeweb|url=https://www.axios.com/2025/06/02/jerry-nadler-ice-investigation-trump-jim-jordan|title=Rep. Jerry Nadler demands probe after DHS handcuffs his aide|last=Solender|first=Andrew|publisher=Axios|date=June 2, 2025|accessdate=June 3, 2025}}

=Committee assignments=

==Current==

Committee on the Judiciary

==Former==

= Caucus memberships =

Congressional Arts Caucus{{cite web|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|title=Membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
Congressional Jewish Caucus (co-chair){{cite news |title=Jewish members of Congress create an official caucus |first=Jacob |last=Kornbluh |work=The Forward |date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=April 2, 2025 |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/694528/jewish-members-of-congress-create-an-official-caucus/}}
Congressional Progressive Caucus{{cite web|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71|title=Caucus Members|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427164818/https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71|archive-date=April 27, 2019|url-status=live}}
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus{{cite web|url=https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|title=Members|publisher=Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514183102/https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|archive-date=May 14, 2018|url-status=live}}
Medicare for All Caucus{{Cite news |author=Osita Nwanevu |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/house-progressives-launch-medicare-for-all-caucus.html |title=House Progressives Launch the Medicare for All Caucus |publisher=Slate |access-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720013924/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/house-progressives-launch-medicare-for-all-caucus.html |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}
House Pro-Choice Caucus{{cite web |url=https://houseprochoicecaucus-degette.house.gov/about-pcc/members | title=Members | date=August 19, 2021 }}
Congressional Coalition on Adoption{{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}
Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment{{cite web|title=Membership|author=|url=https://bush.house.gov/era/about/membership|format=|publisher=Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment|date=|accessdate=18 September 2024}}
Rare Disease Caucus{{cite web|title=Rare Disease Congressional Caucus|author=|url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/|format=|publisher=Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases|date=|accessdate=17 December 2024}}

Political positions

= Surveillance =

Nadler was unhappy with the passage of the surveillance-reform compromise bill, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, saying it "abandons the Constitution's protections and insulates lawless behavior from legal scrutiny".{{cite news |title=House Passes Bill on Federal Wiretapping Powers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/washington/21fisacnd.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 21, 2008 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816074652/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/washington/21fisacnd.html?ref=us |archive-date=August 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}

= Income taxes =

Nadler compared Obama's acceptance of Republican demands to extend Bush-era tax cuts at the highest income levels to someone's being roughed up by the mob, asserting that the Republicans would allow the middle class tax cut only if millionaires and billionaires receive a long-term tax cut as well.{{cite news |title=Nadler: On Taxes GOP Are a Bunch of Gangsters |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nadler-on-taxes-gop-are-a-bunch-of-gangsters/ |publisher=CBS News |date=December 12, 2010 |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215826/http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-3460_162-7143039.html |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=live }}

Nadler has proposed changing the income tax brackets to reflect different regions and their costs of living, which would have lowered the tax rate for New Yorkers.{{cite news|title=Tax Burdens Tilt Coastal, and System's Fairness Is Debated|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/your-money/taxes/tax-burdens-tilt-coastal-and-systems-fairness-is-debated.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 11, 2011|access-date=February 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805123547/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/your-money/taxes/tax-burdens-tilt-coastal-and-systems-fairness-is-debated.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=August 5, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Liberal Tax Revolt|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703467304575383233009284878|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 23, 2010|access-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712033158/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703467304575383233009284878|archive-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=live}} He has opposed tax breaks for high-income earners, saying that the country cannot afford it.

= Abortion =

Nadler sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act in 2004[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.R.3719: Freedom of Choice Act (Introduced in House)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125172018/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.R.3719: |date=2016-01-25 }} - Text of House bill HR 3719 IH (2004) and 2007.[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.1964: Freedom of Choice Act (Introduced in House)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125172018/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.1964: |date=2016-01-25 }} - Text of House bill HR 1964 IH (2007)

= LGBT rights =

File:Jerrold Nadler marches in New York City's gay pride parade.jpg in 2004]]

Nadler supports same-sex marriage, and anti-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

On September 15, 2009, Nadler and two other representatives introduced the Respect for Marriage Act, a proposed bill that would have repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and required the federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages.Eleveld, Kerry (September 15, 2009). [http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Washington_D_C_/Respect_for_Marriage_Act_Debuts/ "Respect for Marriage Act Debuts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108061951/http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Washington_D_C_/Respect_For_Marriage_Act_Debuts/ |date=November 8, 2011 }} The Advocate. Retrieved September 15, 2009.

In 2019, Nadler supported the Equality Act, a bill that would expand the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.{{cite news |title=House Debate on the Equality Act |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?460685-3/house-debate-equality-act |work=C-SPAN |date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804153435/https://www.c-span.org/video/?460685-3%2Fhouse-debate-equality-act |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}

= Immigration =

In March 2019, as the House debated President Trump's veto of a measure unwinding his declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, Nadler said: "I'm convinced that the president's actions are unlawful and deeply irresponsible. A core foundation of our system of government and of democracies across the world, going back hundreds of years, is that the executive cannot unilaterally spend taxpayer money without the legislature's consent."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/435880-push-to-override-trump-border-veto-fails-in-house|title=House fails to override Trump veto on border wall|first=Juliegrace|last=Brufke|date=March 26, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929182920/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/435880-push-to-override-trump-border-veto-fails-in-house|archive-date=September 29, 2019|url-status=live}}

= Iran =

In 2015, Nadler voted to support an agreement to lift economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran's compliance with the terms of the agreement which called for substantial dismantling and scaling back of their nuclear program.{{cite news|title=Jerrold Nadler, New York Congressman, Endorses Iran Nuclear Deal|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/nyregion/jerrold-nadler-new-york-congressman-to-endorse-iran-nuclear-deal.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 21, 2015|access-date=February 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618113909/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/nyregion/jerrold-nadler-new-york-congressman-to-endorse-iran-nuclear-deal.html|archive-date=June 18, 2016|url-status=live}}

= Israel =

Nadler describes himself as a “committed Zionist” and a strong supporter of Israel as a homeland for Jewish people.{{cite web | last=Pilkington | first=Ed | title=Jerry Nadler on Trump’s university attacks: ‘He doesn’t give a damn about antisemitism’ | website=the Guardian | date=2025-04-05 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/05/jerry-nadler-trump-antisemitism | access-date=2025-04-06}}

Of Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017, Nadler said, "I have long recognized Jerusalem as the historic capital of Israel, and have called for the eventual relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, the seat of the Israeli government. While President Trump's announcement earlier today rightly acknowledged the unique attachment of the Jewish people to Jerusalem, the timing and circumstances surrounding this decision are deeply worrying."{{cite news |title=Who's Speaking Out Against Trump's Jerusalem Move |url=https://jstreet.org/experts-speak-trumps-jerusalem-move/#.XYFUQmYzWUl |work=J Street |date=December 12, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707165017/https://jstreet.org/experts-speak-trumps-jerusalem-move/#.XYFUQmYzWUl |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |url-status=live }}

In 2025, he spoke out against aggressive policing of pro-Palestinian protests.

= Housing =

In 2020, Nadler praised a judge for a ruling that could lead to the removal of 20 or more stories in an already-constructed 52-story luxury high-rise building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The developer had received a permit to construct the building, but the judge said the permit should not have been given.{{Cite web|title=High-Rise Developer Decries Ruling That Could Lead to Removal of 20 Floors|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/02/17/upper-west-side-high-rise-developer-slams-judge-ruling-it-violated-zoning-nyc|access-date=2020-07-29|website=www.ny1.com|language=en|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208160523/https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/02/17/upper-west-side-high-rise-developer-slams-judge-ruling-it-violated-zoning-nyc|url-status=live}}

= Climate change =

In April 2023, Nadler was one of the 95 co-sponsors of H.Res.319, which calls for the creation of a Green New Deal.{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2023 |title=H.Res.319 - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/319/cosponsors?s=1&r=4 |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=www.congress.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Safeguarding the Environment |url=https://jerrynadler.com/issues/safeguarding-the-environment/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Jerry Nadler for Congress |language=en}}

= Cannabis =

File:Kirsten Gillibrand Jerry Nadler cannabis descheduling.jpg in 2024.]]

Nadler introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in July 2019 to legalize cannabis at the federal level by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act.{{cite news |last1=Angell |first1=Tom |title=Top Congressional Chairman And Presidential Candidate File Marijuana Legalization Bills |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-congressional-chairman-and-presidential-candidate-file-marijuana-legalization-bills/ |access-date=December 12, 2019 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121033646/https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-congressional-chairman-and-presidential-candidate-file-marijuana-legalization-bills/ |archive-date=November 21, 2019 |url-status=live }} He said: "It's past time to right this wrong nationwide and work to view marijuana use as an issue of personal choice and public health, not criminal behavior."{{cite press release |date=July 23, 2019 |title=Nadler & Harris Introduce Comprehensive Marijuana Reform Legislation |url=https://nadler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394017 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=house.gov |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212120136/https://nadler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?documentid=394017 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |url-status=live }} In November 2019, the bill passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 24–10 vote, marking the first time that a bill to end cannabis prohibition had ever passed a congressional committee.{{cite news |last1=Jaeger |first1=Kyle |title=Marijuana Legalization Bill Approved By Congressional Committee In Historic Vote |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/watch-live-congress-holds-historic-vote-on-bill-to-federally-legalize-marijuana/ |access-date=December 12, 2019 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=November 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212111641/https://www.marijuanamoment.net/watch-live-congress-holds-historic-vote-on-bill-to-federally-legalize-marijuana/ |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |url-status=live }} In April 2022, it passed the full House of Representatives by a 228–164 vote.{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Nicholas |title=House of Representatives passes marijuana legalization bill |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/04/legal-weed-house-vote-marijuana-legalization-bill/3791933001/ |access-date=February 8, 2024 |work=USA Today |date=December 4, 2020}}

= Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 =

Nadler was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|title=Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no|first=Jared|last=Gans|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=The Hill}}

= Voting record =

Nadler has had a liberal voting record in the House. He gained national prominence during the impeachment of Bill Clinton, when he described the process as a "partisan railroad job".{{cite web |url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=1998_record&page=H11786&position=all |title=Congressional Record |date=December 18, 1988 |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603060310/https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/CREC |url-status=live }}

His Medicare proposal includes a section that provides for a consortium of organization to study Ground Zero illness.{{cite web | author = Press release |url=http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny08_nadler/911CompHealthBeneAct090706.html | date = September 7, 2006 | title = Nadler Introduces Major New 9/11 Health Bill: The 9/11 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act | access-date = November 2, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104014653/http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny08_nadler/911CompHealthBeneAct090706.html | archive-date = November 4, 2007 | url-status = live }}

Personal life

Nadler and Josephine Langsdorr "Joyce" Miller wed in 1976.{{cite news|title=Joyce Miller Is Wed To Jerrold Nadler|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/13/archives/joyce-miller-is-wed-to-jerrold-nadler.html|work=The New York Times|date=13 December 1976|access-date=12 May 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107190913/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/13/archives/joyce-miller-is-wed-to-jerrold-nadler.html|url-status=live}} As of 2013, they lived in Lincoln Square on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.[https://a836-acris.nyc.gov/DS/DocumentSearch/DocumentDetail?doc_id=2013022800547001 New York City Office of the City Register] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208160524/https://a836-acris.nyc.gov/DS/DocumentSearch/DocumentDetail?doc_id=2013022800547001 |date=February 8, 2021 }}. Retrieved 12 May 2020.

In 2002 and 2003, Nadler had laparoscopic duodenal switch surgery, helping him lose more than {{convert|100|lb|kg}}.{{cite news|last=Hernandez|first=Raymond|title=Nadler, as a Last Resort, Sheds Weight by Surgery|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/16/nyregion/nadler-as-a-last-resort-sheds-weight-by-surgery.html|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223180428/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/16/nyregion/nadler-as-a-last-resort-sheds-weight-by-surgery.html |archive-date=December 23, 2018|date=November 16, 2002|page=A1}}Associated Press, [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/947302/posts Rep. Nadler to Undergo Second Surgery for Weight Loss] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233557/http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/947302/posts |date=March 3, 2016 }}, July 16, 2003.Danielle Kurtzleben, U.S. News & World Report, [https://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/political-figures-diet-secrets-of-famous-politicians/3 Political Figures: Diet Secrets of Famous Politicians: Politicians and Weight Loss] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329054028/https://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/political-figures-diet-secrets-of-famous-politicians/3 |date=March 29, 2018 }}, November 9, 2011.