Nine Democrats Take the Stage - and the Fight to Succeed Nadler Begins

The two-hour forum — jointly hosted by Broadway Democrats, Hell’s Kitchen Democrats and Columbia University College Democrats — drew a crowd that packed the venue, plus another 400 viewers on Zoom. Attendees heard from Micah Bergdale, Alex Bores, George Conway, Laura Dunn, Jami Floyd, Micah Lasher, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Matthew Shurka, all vying to succeed Nadler in a district that has not seen a competitive open race in decades.

Near the end of the evening, Schwalbe — a public health professional who helped lead the Biden Administration’s global vaccine effort — said she wished public health had received more attention. “Every time I sit in our subway system in New York I think, ‘We’re screwed.’ We’re not ready for the next pandemic.” If elected, she added, “I will be the only Democrat in Congress with a PhD in public health.”

Nina Schwalbe, public health scientist and vaccine superstar, is running for Congress.
If she wins, she will be the only Democratic member of Congress with a PhD in public health.

“I’m Nina Schwalbe, and I’m running for Congress, and I’m everything Donald Trump warned you about,” she said.

When she heard Jerry Nadler’s seat in her district, New York’s 12th, was up for grabs—she’s a sixth generation New Yorker, born and bred—Nina made a decision that not many with her background and credentials would make: she would run for Congress.

As of now, there are currently ten candidates vying for Nadler’s spot, so the issue for my friend in the short term is clear: get her name and experience out there so people know who she is and what she stands for.

ANTI-ICE IN NY-12

Several of the Democrats running to succeed Nadler showed at a Wednesday candidates forum that they’re on the same page when it comes to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics: They want ICE abolished.

“We’ve got to abolish ICE. We can’t reform it, we’ve got to abolish it,” said Nina Schwalbe, a public health researcher.

Power on display in Davos, but does dialogue wield any of it? What to expect at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos. Plus, one health leader announces her bid for U.S. Congress, while another criticizes the state of Nigeria's health system

From health to House. Nina Schwalbe, a long-time global public health leader, is running for Congress in New York’s 12th Congressional District, pitching herself as a candidate with real-world experience at a moment she says demands new leadership.

Schwalbe argues on LinkedIn that federal systems meant to keep people safe — and the guardrails of democracy itself — are under threat, and says her career fixing broken health systems has prepared her to make New York healthier, more affordable, and better prepared for what’s ahead.

Trump announces withdrawal from 66 global organisations

Several health-related organisations are targeted by the USA’s announcement, although the details of how withdrawal will work in practice are unclear.

My best friend is running for Congress

My best friend is running for Congress in New York City. These things happen.

I’ve known her more than 40 years and we’ve been close all that time. She has lived all over the world, while I’ve mostly been hunkered down in Washington DC. But our paths overlapped physically and professionally. Now, I’m following her–figuratively–on this newest adventure.

NYC public school hosts Mamdani's political pick, flouting policy

Democrat Nina Schwalbe, Public Health Leader, Takes on DC's Political Establishment as She Files to Run in NY-12 Primary

Nina is a renowned public health leader, vaccine scientist and advocate who has focused her career on fixing broken systems so people can live better, healthier and more affordable lives.

Democrat Nina Schwalbe, Public Health Leader, Takes on DC's Political Establishment as She Files to Run in NY-12 Primary

Driven by the recklessness of the current administration and the failure of the political establishment to stop it, New York health expert and activist Nina Schwalbe has declared herself as a candidate for the open Congressional seat in NY-12.

Morning Digest: Louisville's Democratic mayor faces a rematch with progressive challenger

"The destruction of the public health system is dangerous now and it will get worse,” Schwalbe told Straus News. “I’m a lifelong New Yorker, and I think there is space for people who have experience outside elected office.”

Exclusive: Health Activist Nina Schwalbe Enters Race to Replace Congressman Nadler

"Washington is systematically dismantling our democracy, putting New York, America, and the world at risk, and Congress is failing to stop it,” says Schwalbe. “This administration is fueling disinformation, propagates false science, and has cut even the most basic services."

Exclusive: Health Activist Nina Schwalbe Enters Race to Replace Congressman Nadler

“My family has lived in District 12 for six generations. I grew up and gave birth to my two sons here. I cared for my parents as they died here. District 12 is my home,” said Schwalbe.

Exclusive: Health Activist Nina Schwalbe Enters Race to Replace Congressman Nadler

Health expert and community activist Nina Schwalbe is the latest candidate to toss her hat into the crowded race to succeed Jerry Nadler in Congress. She says the attacks on the public healthcare system by the Trump administration is a motivating factor. “The destruction of the public health system is dangerous now and it will get worse,” she warned in an exclusive interview with Straus News.

Who's Running to Replace Jerry Nadler? 10 People and Counting.

How many people does it take to fill Representative Jerrold Nadler’s shoes? Technically one, but the number of Democrats fighting to succeed him, now that he has announced that he will not seek re-election, is far higher.

Why is the US pulling out of 31 U.N. groups? And what's the impact?

President Trump's executive order to withdraw the United States from 66 international organizations, agencies and commissions is reverberating across the globe. Many people who work in the international arena are parsing the order and working to understand the implications and impact.

What’s In — and What’s Missing — in the New U.S. Strategy for Global Health

"The private sector is all over this document. There's a lot of lip service to more efficient, etc. But really, this is about outsourcing to the private sector."

Are Donald Trump and US politics bringing global health to its knees?

"Until recently, the USA provided about 30% of global health funding. It was dominant in supplying HIV/AIDS medication and funded a major part of medical research. Much of this has now stopped with Donald Trump restricting gender affirming care, withdrawing from the WHO and holding funds from USAID - and the list goes on."

Global health in crisis: a conversation with Nina Schwalbe

"The US provides 40% of international development assistance globally and about 30% in health. … The payment system has frozen, and the people who would need to turn it back on no longer work there. … There was a lot of pushback from activists that you can't stop HIV treatment midstream. … We don't have the CDC in the discussion anymore. They're not even in the room. … It's not if, it's when we have the next pandemic, and it may be here already. … These people have spent their whole life trying to make the world a better place, and in one email, they were fired."

Countries Agree on Treaty Aimed at Preventing Global Health Crises

“It shows that with or without the U.S., the world can pull together for global health, and a recognition that pandemics require global solidarity,” said Nina Schwalbe, a global health consultant who has held leadership roles in U.S. and international organizations and who followed the negotiations closely. “They pushed past their red lines and they got to agreement. That’s no easy feat for 191 states. And there’s a lot in there. It’s maybe not as strong as we wanted on many issues, but there’s lots to build on.”

WHO members reach deal on how the world would tackle future pandemics

"This is a historic moment and a show, that with or without the U.S., countries are committed to working together and to the power of multilateralism," Nina Schwalbe, the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, told Reuters.

WHO formally adopts pandemic agreement after three years of negotiation

Nina Schwalbe, the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, described the treaty as “a landmark agreement… that will make countries better prepared for the next pandemic”.

Countries reach ‘historic’ agreement to tackle future pandemics, WHO says

“This is a historic moment and a show, that with or without the US, countries are committed to working together and to the power of multilateralism,” Nina Schwalbe the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, told Reuters.

What a debt ceiling breach could mean for health care

Health care experts warn that the impact of the U.S. breaching the debt limit could be stark.

World Health Organization Urges Trump to Reconsider Exit

President makes second attempt to leave UN health agency. Experts say decision could undermine health security worldwide.