When COVID hit, the Biden–Harris Administration tapped Nina to design and lead a $7 billion USAID emergency initiative that distributed more than 500 million vaccines worldwide. Lives were at stake and Nina delivered.Focused on outcomes and accountability, Nina knows that basing decisions on data brings the best results.

portrait of Nina Schwalbe with two people out of focus

Page Intro

Stay Connected

Short Form

We must protect the basics—our rights, our health, our democracy, and the people harmed when the government fails to do its job.

NINA'S PRIORITIES

PROTECT OUR HEALTH

DEFEND OUR RIGHTS

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY

Lists

Democrat Nina Schwalbe, public health leader, takes on DC’s political establishment as she files to run in NY-12 primary.

Comunicado de Prensa

Header

Footer

<h2>3. Primary Care For All</h2>The evidence: Countries with stronger primary care systems have better health outcomes and lower costs (Starfield, Shi &amp; Macinko; OECD). In the U.S., Community Health Center (CHC) patients have lower rates of preventable hospitalization and ER use than comparable patients without a primary care home. Federal funding per CHC patient has fallen from $138 to $107 since 2020 in real terms, and nearly half of all CHCs ran negative margins in 2023. The infrastructure exists and is proven — it is chronically underfunded.&nbsp;In NY-12, 30,000-37,000 residents are uninsured, Hispanic residents are nearly three times as likely to lack coverage as White residents, and routine appointments take 2-4 weeks. Nationally, 75 million Americans live in federally designated primary care shortage areas, a shortage associated with higher rates of preventable hospitalizations and avoidable ER use. I will introduce the Free Primary Care for All Act — to support existing CHCs so they can meet patient needs and to expand CHC sites, with strategic placement in underserved communities — including Ryan Health and Housing Works in our district. Specifically, I will legislate to: increase Section 330 grant funding indexed to inflation; raise Medicaid reimbursement rates so HCs can pay competitive salaries, the primary barrier to recruitment and retention; expand the National Health Service Corps and create a National Public Service Corpscombining salary support and loan forgiveness; fund 2,000 additional NP and PA training slots annually; and require states to grant full practice authority to NPs, PAs, and Certified Nurse-Midwives currently blocked by state law. I will also reverse the $8 billion in Medicaid DSH cuts that took effect October 1, 2025 — New York's safety net hospitals received $2.1 billion in DSH funding in FY2022 — with another $16 billion in cuts scheduled.&nbsp;Sources: Advocates for Community Health (2024); Commonwealth Fund FQHC Survey (2023); GNYHA DSH analysis; NY State of Health CD-12 Fact Sheet (Jan. 2025); Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey (2024); CBO IRA scoring; KFF OBBBA analysis; Public Citizen — Taxpayer Funded Drugs (2023); KFF Medicare age-reduction estimate; HRSA/AAMC shortage projections.

Item 1

Get Involved!

Text with Sidebar

Events

Nina grew up in NY-12 and gave birth to her children here. She took care of her parents as they died here. She has marched for our rights on these streets. And she loves the people and neighborhoods that make New York, New York.&nbsp;New York has been home to her family for six generations and Nina believes this moment demands leadership that shows up for New Yorkers.

Nina is a public health leader who puts evidence into action.&nbsp;She has decades of experience in leadership roles at some of the world’s most complex institutions where politics, finances, logistics, and human lives intersect. She has managed large teams and large budgets, negotiated among governments,&nbsp;strengthened systems that operate across borders, and created alliances that deliver results.From vaccine access and pandemic preparedness to maternal health, disability inclusion, and human rights, Nina has dedicated her life to ensuring public systems serve people.

Photo of Nina in a meeting, a UN flag can be spotted at the background of the meeting room

Contact

Both headline and caption can be turned off on the sidebar.

autumn leaves on the floor with NYC taxis at the background (out of focus)

Headline here

Full Width Media

Nina Schwalbe has spent her career leading complex organizations where the stakes are life and death. She has worked here in New York, for the federal government, and around the world to fix broken systems. And she has seen firsthand how decisions made in Washington ripple outward into everyday life in New York and beyond.Nina has a track record of delivering real results for real people. She brings a clear vision to strengthen our democratic institutions and make New York healthier, more affordable, safer, and more prepared for what’s ahead.That’s the leadership Congress needs right now.A healthy democracy demands leaders who have proven themselves beyond politics.

Press Release

PROTECT WHAT MATTERS

Health Care Access and Affordability

Democratize Medical Innovation

Secure Housing, Food, and Transport&nbsp;

Migrants and Immigrants, Marginalized Communities, and Racial Justice

Headline Text Here

<h2>NINA SCHWALBE, MPH, PhD PUBLISHES OP-ED LAYING OUT HEALTHCARE VISION AND CASE FOR CONGRESS</h2>Public health leader calls for immediate action on Medicaid, SNAP, and drug pricing as candidate for NY-12For Immediate Release - June 2, 2026NEW YORK, NY — Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD Democratic candidate for New York's 12th Congressional District, today published an op-ed making the case for her candidacy and unveiling details of her signature "Healthy People, Healthy Democracy Act" — the legislation she pledges to introduce on her first day in Congress.The op-ed, published on June 2, 2026 in the New York Daily News, opens with an urgent warning: nearly 43,500 New Yorkers face losing food assistance this week as the Trump administration's new SNAP work requirements hit their first deadline. Approximately 40% of those at risk are young adults between 18 and 30.Dr.Schwalbe, a veteran public health leader, argues that proposed Medicaid cuts could strip coverage from up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, drain $13.5 billion from the state's healthcare economy, and force hospitals and nursing homes to close — all while Congress delivers $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy."The difference between countries that protect their people's health and those that don't isn't money or knowledge. It's political will," Dr.Schwalbe writes. "That's the change I'll bring through my Day-One bill."Her proposed legislation would lower drug costs by expanding Medicare negotiation authority, expand community health centers, protect and grow Medicare and Medicaid, gradually lower the Medicare eligibility age toward a universal single-payer system, and fully restore SNAP benefits.Dr.Schwalbe points to her career track record as evidence she can deliver: she brought the price of the cervical cancer vaccine down 65% from the lowest available price for the world's poorest countries and led a $7 billion federal initiative delivering lifesaving medicines to hundreds of millions of people."Voting to restore funding is the easy part," she writes. "The hard part is knowing what to do after — and that's where my experience fits the bill."Dr.Schwalbe is running in the Democratic primary for the 12th Congressional District, which covers Manhattan from 14th Street to the northern end of Central Park.Read the full op-ed: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KaZGu3pu4qXqK52boQCXppyikvWV0Vbr/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New York Daily News</a>Learn more: <a href="https://www.ninafornyc.com/healthy-people-healthy-democracy-act">https://www.ninafornyc.com/healthy-people-healthy-democracy-act</a>Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a>

Text

Nina has never run for office. She's been too busy getting things done. But these times demand change. Nina will fight for healthy people - and a healthy democracy. And we will win.

<h2>El Congreso debe detener la guerra no autorizada de Trump: declaración de la candidata al Congreso Nina Schwalbe sobre el ataque militar de Estados Unidos contra Irán</h2>Para publicación inmediata – 4 de marzo de 2026Por segunda vez en dos meses, Donald Trump ha lanzado una acción militar inconstitucional contra un estado extranjero sin la aprobación del Congreso.Las justificaciones para este ataque han sido directamente contradichas por la Agencia de Inteligencia de Defensa y por funcionarios del Pentágono, lo que confirma que esto no es más que una guerra de agresión injustificada. Sin lugar a dudas, se trata de un hecho atroz: un crimen que provocará muertes innecesarias de iraníes, estadounidenses y personas en todo el Medio Oriente a medida que este conflicto escale.Nuestro ejército es la fuerza militar más poderosa del planeta, y actualmente está siendo utilizado sin controles ni supervisión por un hombre errático dispuesto a emplearlo para saldar vendettas personales, sin preocuparse por el costo en vidas humanas más allá de cómo afecte a sus propios índices de aprobación.He trabajado en zonas de guerra y campamentos de refugiados alrededor del mundo, y he visto de primera mano las consecuencias de la violencia descontrolada e irracional sobre la vida humana, especialmente la de los niños. Un ataque mortal contra una escuela de niñas en Minab ya ha provocado la muerte de 165 personas, según reportes iniciales, la mayoría niñas de entre 7 y 12 años, y esa cifra sigue aumentando.Este presidente tomó una decisión deliberada. Recortó PEPFAR, un programa que ha salvado 26 millones de vidas, y desmanteló USAID, que entregaba alimentos, agua potable y medicamentos de emergencia a cientos de millones de personas en todo el mundo. Y en lugar de eso, eligió iniciar una guerra que quita vidas en lugar de salvarlas.Si el Congreso no actúa de inmediato para aprobar la Resolución de Poderes de Guerra Khanna-Massie y bloquear esta guerra no autorizada, entonces será cómplice, no solo de la violencia actual, sino también de cada ataque futuro que este presidente —envalentonado por la inacción— pueda cometer. Hago un llamado al representante Hakeem Jeffries para que asegure cada voto demócrata, y al senador Chuck Schumer para que lleve al pleno, de forma inmediata, la resolución del Senado. El liderazgo demócrata no debe ceder. Cualquier cosa menos que eso sería una grave falta de responsabilidad.<a href="/37a6b2b8-2989-4b2c-b1db-1724a71231e1#block-ae416776-beff-495d-bbb4-a092dea6cc68">Visit Press Release in English</a>

checkMark

Cares for the well-being of its people

Guarantees rights and freedoms

Secures the safety of future generations

<h3>WHAT IS A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY?</h3>A healthy democracy is one where the government:

Priorities List

<h2>FORMER STATE SENATOR TOM DUANE ENDORSES NINA SCHWALBE, MPH, PhD FOR NEW YORK'S 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT</h2>Trailblazing LGBTQ+ rights champion backs public health leader in crowded June 23 Democratic primaryFor Immediate Release - June 2, 2026NEW YORK, NY — The campaign of Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD for New York's 12th Congressional District today announced the endorsement of former New York State Senator Tom Duane, a pioneering figure in Manhattan Democratic politics and one of the most respected progressive voices in the state's history.Duane, who represented a large swath of Manhattan — including Chelsea, the West Village, Hell's Kitchen, the Upper West Side, Stuy Town, Peter Cooper Village, Waterside Plaza, and Midtown and the Theater District — from 1999 to 2012, was the first openly gay and openly HIV-positive member of the New York State Senate. He was also the lead sponsor of New York's Marriage Equality Act and the prime Senate sponsor of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) — which finally became law in 2019 — leaving a legacy of advocacy for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, people living with HIV/AIDS, tenants, and working families."Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD is exactly the kind of leader New York's 12th District needs right now," said Senator Duane. "She is a brilliant, fearless public health expert who has dedicated her life to fixing broken systems and protecting vulnerable people — which is exactly what Congress needs to be doing. I've known this district for decades, and I know Nina will fight for every single person in it."Dr.Schwalbe, a sixth-generation New Yorker and public health scientist, holds a PhD in public health from the University of the Witwatersrand and has spent her career managing multi-billion-dollar vaccine programs for the U.S. government and the United Nations. She advised New York City and governments worldwide on their COVID-19 response and, if elected, would be the only Democrat in Congress with a doctorate in public health."I am deeply honored to have Tom Duane's endorsement," said Dr.Schwalbe. "Tom spent his career in the exact communities I'm running to represent, fighting for tenants, for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, for people living with HIV/AIDS, and for anyone the system had left behind. That is the spirit I will bring to Congress."Dr.Schwalbe is one of eight candidates running in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District, the open seat left by the retirement of longtime incumbent Rep. Jerrold Nadler after 34 years in office.The primary is scheduled for June 23, 2026.Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a>

Events Post

Why Nina

photo Nina walking out of a subway station with a text that reads Nina Democrat for Congress NY12

Embed

Get involved by signing up for a shift today!

Mobilize Page

Comunicado de Prensa Guerra guerra no autorizada de Trump contra Irán

Issues Post

<h2>How to handle donations on your website</h2>Run does not process donations directly on our platform, as is standard with most political and advocacy sites.Campaigns are often required to comply with reporting requirements, donation limits, and other regulations, so using a donation processor that specializes in serving campaigns is generally a good idea. Sign up with a donation processor and then on your Pages sidebar, click the Link icon on the Donate page and add the link to your donation page. Some common options for donation processing include:<ul><li><a href="https://secure.actblue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ActBlue</a></li><li><a href="https://www.campaigndeputy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Campaign Deputy</a> </li><li><a href="https://goodchange.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GoodChange</a></li><li><a href="https://numero.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Numero</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ngpvan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NGP VAN</a></li></ul>

<h2>2. Cheaper Drugs</h2>The evidence: A 2021 RAND Corporation study found U.S. drug prices average 2.56 times higher than in 32 comparable countries on a net basis — higher for branded drugs. One in three Americans report skipping doses or not filling prescriptions because of cost (KFF, 2023). The IRA's Medicare negotiation authority is projected by CBO to save $98.5 billion over ten years — but prices don't take effect until 2026, and recent legislation has already eroded an estimated 10% of those savings. Extending negotiated prices to Medicaid and private insurers would generate an estimated additional $500 billion in savings over a decade.&nbsp;The federal government invests roughly $50 billion annually in NIH and other biomedical research. Public funding contributed to every one of the 210 drugs approved by the FDA between 2010 and 2016. Despite this, U.S. drug prices bear no statutory relationship to the public investment behind them. I will expand the IRA: shorten exclusivity periods before negotiation eligibility from 7/11 years to 3/5 years, consistent with international norms; remove the cap that currently limits negotiation to the top 50 drugs by Medicare spending, bringing hundreds of additional drugs into scope; and extend negotiated prices as a binding ceiling for Medicaid and private insurers, with direct benefit to 3.9 million New Yorkers on Medicare and 7.5 million statewide on Medicaid. I will require enforceable affordable pricing conditions on any federal grant or license for drug development. I will also seek to strengthen march-in rights under the Bayh-Dole Act — rights never successfully exercised in 50 years but recently updated by the Biden administration — so that taxpayer-funded drugs priced out of reach face a credible competitive alternative. And I will mandate full public disclosure of actual R&amp;D costs, separating research expenditure from marketing and stock buybacks.&nbsp;

<h2>1. Affordable Health Care</h2>The evidence: 27 million Americans are uninsured; a number is projected to rise as federal rollbacks accelerate. Nearly 1 in 4 working-age adults are underinsured — with cost-sharing so high that 57% skip or delay necessary care (Commonwealth Fund, 2024). In NY-12, 29,300 residents depend on enhanced ACA tax credits; if those expire, premiums rise $80 a month. Every $1 invested in Medicaid generates an estimated $1.50-$2.00 in economic activity (Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission). CBO estimated in 2019 that a Medicare buy-in option at age 60 would cover approximately 4-5 million additional Americans.&nbsp;Protecting existing coverage is necessary but not sufficient. I will make permanent the enhanced ACA subsidies and defend Medicaid from block grants, per-capita caps, and work requirements. I will add dental, vision, and hearing to Medicare, expand the Medicare Savings Program by raising income thresholds and eliminating asset tests, and defend New York's Section 1115 Medicaid waiver, which authorizes $3 billion for housing, nutrition, and transportation as health interventions. These protections safeguard coverage millions of New Yorkers depend on today. The structural path to universal coverage is progressive Medicare expansion. I will introduce legislation to lower the eligibility age from 65 to 60 as a first step toward 55 and ultimately a system that covers everyone. Lowering to age 60 creates a coverage option for people who retire early or lose employer coverage — and removes older, higher-cost enrollees from the ACA risk pool, reducing premiums for younger families. Each step toward a lower eligibility age builds the political and fiscal case for further expansion.&nbsp;

Health care is the #1 issue I hear about from our neighbors in NY-12. This draft policy outlines exactly what I will introduce, fund&nbsp;and fight for in Congress. But for this to be truly 'district-powered', I need to hear from you. Whether you're a health professional who sees the system's flaws daily or a neighbor who has struggled with access to care or a medical bill, please share your thoughts in the form below.&nbsp;

<h2>Congress must stop Trump’s Unauthorized War:&nbsp; Statement by Congressional Candidate Nina Schwalbe on the US military attack on Iran</h2>For Immediate Release - March 4, 2026For the second time in two months, Donald Trump has launched an unconstitutional&nbsp;military action against a foreign state without congressional approval.His justifications for this attack have been directly contradicted by the Defense Intelligence Agency and Pentagon officials, cementing the fact that this is nothing more than an unjustified war of aggression. In no uncertain terms, this is a horrific crime—one that will result in the needless deaths of Iranians, Americans, and people across the Middle East as this conflict escalates.Our military is the most powerful force on the planet, and it is currently being wielded without checks or oversight by an erratic man willing to use it to settle personal vendettas, with no concern for the cost in human life beyond its impact on his own approval ratings.&nbsp;I have worked in war zones and refugee camps around the world, and have seen firsthand the consequences of unchecked, irrational violence on human life, especially children. One deadly strike at a girls’ school in Minab has already led to the reported deaths of 165 people, most of them girls aged 7 to 12, and that count is growing. This president made a deliberate choice. He cut PEPFAR — which has saved 26 million lives — and dismantled USAID, which delivered food, clean water, and emergency medicine to hundreds of millions of people around the world. And instead he chose to start a war that takes lives instead of saving them."If Congress does not act immediately to pass the Khanna-Massie War Powers Resolution to block this unauthorized war, then it is complicit — not only in the current violence, but in every future attack this president, emboldened by inaction, may commit. I call on Representative Hakeem Jeffries to whip every Democratic vote, and on Senator Chuck Schumer to bring the Senate companion resolution to the floor immediately. The Democratic establishment must hold the line. Anything less is a dereliction.Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a> <a href="/df18cbfd-7223-43ff-96ac-919224c7fe31">Ir al comunicado de prensa en Español</a>

Iran War - Congress must stop 

“We don’t need more money. We need our money to work harder.” —Nina Schwalbe

Quote

Question 1: What is one health care issue you have faced&nbsp;that you&nbsp;feel this policy does not sufficiently address?&nbsp;&nbsp;Question 2: Are we being bold enough in our approach&nbsp;to universal coverage?&nbsp;Question 3: Beyond costs and coverage, what are practical barriers that we need to address to make care truly accessible in NY-12?Question 4:&nbsp;Are there other statutory authorities or funding mechanisms we should be leveraging to achieve these goals?

Long Form

Call to Action

You might want to list additional contact information here as well. On the sidebar options, make sure to set up where form submissions go - the simplest is email, but your form can also be linked to various other services.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

It’s time to fix what’s broken. Health care that’s too expensive. Housing that’s out of reach. Systems that no longer work for everyday New Yorkers.

REBUILD STRONGER

Checks and Balances, Fiscal Responsibility, Transparency and Oversight

Caring systems: Universal Pre-K,&nbsp; Childcare, Mental Health, Elder Care

Civic Participation, Trust-Building, and Community Problem-Solving

Issues

<h2>La demócrata Nina Schwalbe, líder en salud pública, desafía al establishment político de DC al inscribirse para competir en la primaria de NY-12.</h2>Nueva York, 9 de enero de 2026. -- Impulsada por la imprudencia de la administración actual y el fracaso del establishment político para detenerla, la experta en salud y activista neoyorquina Nina Schwalbe ha lanzado su candidatura al escaño congresional vacante NY-12.Nina es una reconocida líder de salud pública, científica especializada en vacunas y defensora que ha enfocado su carrera en arreglar sistemas defectuosos para que las personas puedan vivir vidas mejores, más saludables y más asequibles.Debido al fracaso de esta administración, Estados Unidos está viendo nuevamente brotes de sarampión y tos ferina, enfermedades que se creían erradicadas en EE.UU. gracias a la medicina moderna."Mi familia ha vivido en el distrito 12 durante seis generaciones. Crecí y di a luz a mis dos hijos aquí. Cuidé a mis padres mientras morían aquí. El distrito 12 es mi hogar", dijo Schwalbe.Nina es una negociadora fuerte, capaz y lista "desde el primer día". Ella hace que las cosas sucedan. Ha supervisado instituciones complejas, gestionado grandes equipos y presupuestos, y ha ejecutado programas públicos para mejorar la vida diaria y los medios de subsistencia de las personas. También es propietaria de una pequeña empresa.En sus décadas de trabajo en los sectores público y privado, el enfoque de Nina ha sido arreglar sistemas que no funcionaban: desde la gestión de programas de vacunas multimillonarios para el Gobierno de EE.UU. y las Naciones Unidas hasta el asesoramiento a la Ciudad de Nueva York y gobiernos de todo el mundo sobre su respuesta al COVID-19. Nina ha logrado resultados medibles, fortalecido la rendición de cuentas y salvado vidas.&nbsp;Si es elegida, Nina sería la única demócrata en el Congreso con un doctorado en salud pública."Washington está desmantelando sistemáticamente nuestra democracia, poniendo en riesgo a Nueva York, Estados Unidos y al mundo, y el Congreso no logra detenerlo", dice Schwalbe. "Esta administración está alimentando la desinformación, propaga ciencia falsa y ha recortado incluso los servicios más básicos. La lista es interminable y el ataque implacable: deteniendo programas de vacunación, negando el cambio climático, recortando drásticamente la Ley de Atención Médica Asequible, Medicaid, Medicare, vivienda y educación, generando miedo en las comunidades a través de políticas migratorias ilegales y atacando derechos básicos. En un momento en que cada vez más neoyorquinos luchan con los costos, la situación está yendo de mal en peor".Nina trabajará para restaurar la supervisión y el financiamiento congresional. "Bajo esta administración, el gobierno federal ha cortado de tajo nuestros derechos, destruyendo los mismos sistemas diseñados para protegernos. Merecemos un mejor liderazgo en el Congreso. El Congreso ha abdicado su papel de supervisión para resolver los problemas más graves de nuestra nación y proteger el bienestar de sus ciudadanos, comenzando por ejecutar los programas que ordena", dice Schwalbe. "El ataque contra la salud es un ejemplo flagrante de la negligencia, la ignorancia y la malicia que enfrentamos.&nbsp;Por ejemplo, el trabajo del gobierno federal es decidir qué vacunas están disponibles en nuestras farmacias locales; garantizar que los medicamentos que tomamos sean seguros y eficaces; y detener virus mortales antes de que lleguen a Nueva York.&nbsp;Cuando no cumple con su trabajo, como es el caso ahora, todos somos más vulnerables."Me postulo para el Congreso porque este momento exige un nuevo liderazgo que proteja lo que importa, reconstruya de manera más sólida y se prepare para el mañana. Es bastante simple. Nuestro gobierno no está haciendo su trabajo. Eso tiene que cambiar, comenzando ahora".La campaña Nina for NYC ya ha recaudado más de $200,000 sin dinero de PAC corporativos. Como candidata por primera vez sin una lista de donantes existente, esto representa un comienzo sólido para una carrera competitiva.Obtenga más información sobre Nina Schwalbe en <a href="http://www.ninafornyc.com">www.ninafornyc.com</a>Contacto:&nbsp; Lisa Kovitz. <a href="mailto:lisa@ninafornyc.com">lisa@ninafornyc.com</a> -&nbsp; 917 992 7683<a href="/37a6b2b8-2989-4b2c-b1db-1724a71231e1#block-c12286d8-8b0f-4f8d-a1ad-3604f62d2cad">Visit Press Release in English</a>

Right now, the federal government is destroying the very systems that keep people safe. Our rights and the guardrails that make democracy work are on the line. We won't ever change the way that Washington works if we're unwilling to change the types of people we send to represent us in Washington. This moment demands new leadership.

Support Nina in bringing real change to Washington.

MAKE A DONATION

Donate

So much is happening right now. Write a couple lines to get your readers excited for it.

INTERVIEWS &amp; RECENT NEWS

News

Nina is a relentless doer who turns bold ideas into real-world results. She’s led at the highest levels of public service, from leading health for UNICEF to advising New York City and governments around the world during the COVID crisis.

CRISIS-TESTED. READY TO LEAD.

<h2>Career Highlights</h2><ul><li>Appointed by the Biden-Harris administration to design and launch a $7B USAID emergency initiative, delivering hundreds of millions of&nbsp;vaccines globally</li><li>Negotiated radical price reduction of the cervical cancer vaccine so it could be widely available in low-income countries</li><li>Led the implementation of an initiative developed by Nobel Prize–winning economists that prevented more than 700,000 childhood deaths and drove policies enabling tens of millions of children to access new, life-saving vaccines</li><li>Designed a World Bank program leveraging public and private finance to&nbsp;deliver a 700% return on investment for women’s and children’s health</li></ul><h2>Acting locally for New York</h2><ul><li>During the COVID-19 pandemic, advised the New York City Mayor’s office and schools throughout the city on keeping schools open and fought for equity-focused vaccine policies</li><li>Community volunteer, grassroots canvasser, active member of local Democratic club, and lifelong Democrat</li><li>Dance mom, YMCA swim team mom, West Side Little League mom, parents committee member, and condominium board chair</li></ul><h2>Standing up for equality and equal rights</h2><ul><li>Secured recognition of same-sex couples working for the United Nations in Geneva, advancing equality in international institutions</li><li>Directed programs and designed policies expanding equitable access to HIV and tuberculosis treatment, harm reduction, LGBTQ+ services, palliative care, elder care, mental health services, disability rights, and the use of AI in low-resource settings&nbsp;</li><li>Led policy efforts to accelerate the development of faster, life-saving cures for tuberculosis, the leading infectious killer of adults worldwide</li></ul><h2>Advancing&nbsp;evidence and accountability in government</h2><ul><li>Championed the development of a newly adopted global treaty to shape more equitable and effective global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response</li><li>Introduced real time and independent accountability metrics in US governments and in programs around the world</li><li>Shaped the public policy debate, writing for major outlets including the Washington Post, Financial Times, the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Stat News, and the Lancet, and frequently interviewed as a global expert by NPR, the BBC, the New York Times, the Financial Times, Bloomberg News, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and the Economist</li></ul>

Health Policy Priorities: New York's 12th Congressional District&nbsp; What I will introduce, fund, and fight for in Congress&nbsp;

Nina with a smile in a white t-shirt. Behind her reads Democrat for Congress NY12 Nina

Healthy People, Healthy Democracy

On Day One, I will propose the American Health Security Act

<h2>ACT UP NY CANDIDATE SCORECARD: NINA SCHWALBE, MPH, PhD EARNS TOP MARKS AMONG CANDIDATES</h2>Male candidates fall short as Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD earns top score For Immediate Release - June 2, 2026NEW YORK, NY — ACT UP New York today released its candidate scorecard evaluating ten candidates on seven key policy issues, with Dr.Nina Schwalbe earning the highest overall score in the field.Dr.Schwalbe received six “A” grades across seven categories evaluated: Medicare for all, abolishing ICE, ending military aid to Israel, abortion without restrictions, a free PrEP program and funding for PEPFAR, protections for gender-affirming care, and protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people.Alex Bores, who has been endorsed by the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, the leading citywide LGBTQ+ political club and Equality New York PAC: a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the lives of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers and their families, ranked 4th among the candidates. Bores received a grade of C for “A Free PrEP Program” and an F for “Ending Aid to Israel.”Jack Schlossberg earned mixed marks, scoring well on abortion rights and immigration enforcement but receiving failing grades on ending military aid to Israel and mediocre C grades on gender-affirming care and PrEP/PEPFAR funding — a particularly alarming gap for a candidate courting progressive and LGBTQ+ voters.Micah Lasher tells a similar story. Despite an A grade on immigration, Lasher failed on Israel military aid as well as PrEP and PEPFAR funding — programs that have saved millions of lives globally and remain under existential threat.George Conway received failing grades on all seven issues evaluated — a sweeping rejection of every priority ACT UP New York stands for, from healthcare access to LGBTQ+ equality to global AIDS funding.No other democratic candidate in the field matched Dr.Schwalbe's across-the-board performance. The ACT UP NY scorecard exposes frontrunners' failures on HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ issues.ACT UP New York is a diverse, non-partisan group committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis and fight for health justice for all. ACT UP New York urges voters to consult the full scorecard before casting their ballot.Find ACT UP NY’s scorecard <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZDtoCXkfOg/?igsh=MTVoaTRjamY4N3Zkeg%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a>

Volunteer

Intro to the bios section can be written here.

Endorsements

former state senator - New York's 29th district

Thomas K. Duane

U.S. Representative - connecticut's 4th district

Congressman Jim Himes, Connecticut

Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 61

Vittoria Fariello&nbsp;

Former President, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation

Jo Ivey Boufford

Housing Activist

Charles King

Democratic State Committeewoman for Assembly District 66

Sommer Omar

Helen Clark former New Zealand Prime Minister endorses Nina Schwalbe

former Prime Minister of New Zealand

Rt. Hon Helen Clark

New York Times Bestselling Author, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

Deborah Copaken

Tony award-winning playwright, author, and activist

V (Formerly Eve Ensler)

PhD, Health Policy Expert

Matthew Kavanagh

Monica Von Thun Calderón Grandaisy Bakery endorses Nina Schwalbe

Community Leader and Owner, Grandaisy Bakery

Monica Von Thun Calderón

TB and HIV Activist

Mark Harrington

former Director of Policy and Research at Oxfam America

Gawain Kripke

Long-term aids activist

Peter Staley

Global health advocate

Asia Russell

Democratic Women of Westport

The Alliance for American Leadership

People With Bios

Need to reach out directly? <a href="mailto:info@ninafornyc.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Send us an email</a>

<h2>THE EXPERTISE WASHINGTON IS MISSING:&nbsp;SCHWALBE PUBLISHES ON MEASLES AND AI IN GLOBAL HEALTH</h2>NY-12 Candidate's New Articles Address the Measles Emergency and the Future of AI in Global HealthFor Immediate Release - April 16, 2026NEW YORK, NY — Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD, Democratic candidate for New York's 12th Congressional District, today published two new pieces in major outlets, underscoring why her public health expertise is urgently needed in Congress.In The Telegraph, Dr.Schwalbe wrote "Explosive Measles Cases: A Sign of Things to Come," explaining that the alarming surge in measles infections is not an isolated crisis but a warning signal of a weakening public health infrastructure — one that demands immediate and serious attention from lawmakers. Read the article <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/explosive-measles-outbreaks-are-a-sign-of-things-to-come/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.In the peer-reviewed journal PLOS Digital Health, Schwalbe co-authored "Artificial Intelligence for Research Capacity Strengthening: Two Reviews and a Pathway to Shift Power in Global Health," a rigorous examination of how AI tools can — and must — be deployed to build research capacity in under-resourced settings and to rebalance power in global health systems. Read the article <a href="https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001302" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.&nbsp;"Today I'm writing about a 19th-century disease making a comeback and a 21st-century technology reshaping global health. Both stories have the same problem: a government that stopped listening to scientists. I'm done watching from the sidelines,” Schwalbe said.&nbsp;Dr.Schwalbe has spent decades leading at the intersection of science, policy, and action — steering a $7 billion USAID initiative that delivered more than 500 million COVID vaccines, negotiating landmark reductions in the price of the cervical cancer vaccine, and advising the New York City Mayor's office during the pandemic.&nbsp;Dr.Schwalbe is the only candidate in the NY-12 race with this depth of policy experience.&nbsp;The sixth-generation New Yorker spent the evening of April 15 protesting the exclusion of half of the field of primary candidates from a “NY-12 for Congress: Candidate Forum” held at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side.&nbsp;"My opponents can tell you what's wrong in Washington. I provide the policy fix. That's the difference between talking about a crisis and knowing how to end one."The primary election is June 23, 2026.Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a>

The Lancet Profiles Nina

Health. Housing. Transit. Safety. Nina understands how systems connect and why fixing them now matters for our democracy. A healthy democracy depends on healthy people. Right now, they’re both in crisis. We must protect what matters, rebuild the systems that have been dismantled, and prepare for the future we want.

Nina is proud to have the support of elected officials, community leaders, advocates, and neighbors across New York and around the world who believe in building a healthier, more just, inclusive, and accountable government.

Endorsements

Democrat Nina Schwalbe is a sixth-generation New Yorker and public health leader who has spent her life working hard to fix broken systems.The federal government has taken an ax to our rights, destroying the systems designed to protect us. The attacks are a blatant example of the malice, neglect, and ignorance we face.&nbsp;Nina is determined to make NY-12 healthier, more affordable, and more prepared for what’s to come.

HEALTHY PEOPLE.&nbsp; HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.

Protect what matters

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD, has spent her career as a public servant, working hard to fix broken systems and connect people to life-saving care. She has lowered drug costs and delivered hundreds of millions of vaccines around the world. Nina fights smart - and makes change happen.We need Nina to bring fundamental change to the system and to NY-12. The diagnosis is clear. Democrats need a new prescription.

NINA GETS THINGS DONE.

Healthy People, Healthy Democracy Act

Health Policy Priorities: New York's 12th Congressional District&nbsp; What I will introduce, fund, and fight for in Congress&nbsp;

<h2>Democrat Nina Schwalbe, public health leader, takes on DC’s political establishment as she files to run in NY-12 primary.</h2>New York, January 9, 2026. -- 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.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Because of this administration’s failure, America is once again seeing outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, long thought to be vanquished in the US by modern medicine.“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.Nina is a strong negotiator, with “Day One” competence, who gets things done. She has overseen complex institutions, managed large teams and budgets, and delivered public programs to improve people’s daily lives and livelihoods. She is also a small business owner.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In her decades of work across public and private sectors, Nina’s focus has been fixing broken systems. From managing multi-billion-dollar vaccine programs for the US Government and the United Nations to advising New York City and governments around the world on their COVID-19 response, Nina has achieved measurable results, strengthened accountability, and saved lives. If elected, Nina would be the only Democrat in Congress with a PhD in public health.“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. The list is endless and the attack relentless - stopping vaccine programs, denying climate change, slashing the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, housing and education, bringing fear to communities through unlawful immigration policies, and attacking basic rights. At a time when more and more New Yorkers are struggling with costs, the situation is going from bad to worse.”Nina will work to restore congressional oversight and funding. “Under this administration, the federal government has taken an ax to our rights - destroying the very systems designed to protect us. We deserve better leadership in Congress.&nbsp; Congress has abdicated its oversight role to solve our nation’s most serious problems and protect the well-being of its citizens starting by carrying out the programs it mandates,” says Schwalbe.&nbsp; “The attack against health is a blatant example of the neglect, ignorance, and malice we face. As an example, the federal government’s job is to decide what vaccines are available at our local pharmacies; guarantee the medicines we take are safe and effective; and stop deadly viruses before they reach New York. When it fails to do its job, as is the case now, we are all more vulnerable.&nbsp;“I am running for Congress because this moment demands new leadership that protects what matters, rebuilds stronger, and prepares for tomorrow. It's pretty straightforward. Our government is not doing its job. That needs to change, starting now.”&nbsp;The Nina for NYC campaign has already raised over $200,000 with no corporate PAC money.&nbsp; As a first-time candidate without an existing donor list, this represents a strong start for a competitive race.&nbsp;Learn more about Nina Schwalbe and <a href="http://www.ninafornyc.com">www.ninafornyc.com</a>&nbsp;Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a><a href="/861548c5-41c2-473e-b167-8c90d2bc170a">Ir al comunicado de prensa en Español</a>

Nina is running for Congress

<h2>The Lancet Profiles Congressional Candidate Nina Schwalbe as a Leading Global Health Voice for U.S. Congress</h2>Prestigious international medical journal spotlights Schwalbe’s decades of global health leadership and her campaign to bring public health expertise back to CongressFor Immediate Release - April 3, 2026NEW YORK, NY — Nina Schwalbe, Democratic candidate for New York’s 12th Congressional District, is the subject of a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00613-6/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major profile</a> published April 2, 2026, in The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious medical journals. The profile highlights Schwalbe’s extraordinary career in global health and her urgent call to restore scientific expertise and evidence-based leadership to the U.S. Congress.The profile details Schwalbe’s trajectory from witnessing a measles outbreak at the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand, which first drew her to public health, to leading vaccine procurement and delivery programs that reached more than 100 countries. Her career has spanned senior roles at UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, USAID, the Open Society Foundations, and the TB Alliance. At USAID, she founded and served as the first Director of the COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Delivery Initiative.“I’m running because we are in deep trouble, and we can do better,” Schwalbe said. “We don’t have any congressional expertise in public health. This administration is fueling disinformation, propagating false science, stopping vaccine programs, denying climate change, slashing health and education programs. We urgently need to restore the CDC, the NIH, the FDA, and all the underlying infrastructure, talent, and expertise that keep us safe.”The Lancet profile features tributes from global leaders across health and government. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark praised Schwalbe’s “transformative leadership,” noting her track record at Gavi in cutting the cost of lifesaving medicines for the world’s poorest. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar described her as “an astute strategic thinker as well as a passionate advocate” with a record of lasting impact. WHO’s Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health Pascale Allotey called her “a consistent and principled champion of equity, gender equality, and social justice” who combines intellectual precision with deep moral clarity.Schwalbe holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University. She is a Senior Scholar at Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Policy &amp; Politics&nbsp;and founder of Spark Street Advisors, a think tank advisory service. Her family has lived in New York’s 12th Congressional District for six generations. Schwalbe is running in a competitive Democratic primary field. The primary is scheduled for June 23.“This moment demands new leadership that protects what matters, rebuilds stronger, and prepares for tomorrow,” Schwalbe said. “Our current administration is destroying health and trust in science, and there is no leadership in Congress stopping it. I will stand up for health, for science, and for democracy.”______________________About Nina SchwalbeNina Schwalbe is a global health expert and Democratic candidate for New York’s 12th Congressional District. She has spent her career working to expand access to medicines and vaccines, negotiate lower drug prices for low-income nations, and build the global health infrastructure that keeps communities safe. She holds a PhD and MPH in public health and has worked in nearly 100 countries. Learn more at <a href="http://ninafornyc.com">ninafornyc.com</a>.Contact: <a href="mailto:press@ninafornyc.org">press@ninafornyc.org</a>

“Insert whatever text you want here. It could be about your campaign’s main objective, or candidate’s life and career. If you increase the text length, use the slider on the sidebar to reduce the body copy size."

News

Our positions for New York's 12th Congressional District (NY-12) in brief - please send your comments and feedback to <a href="mailto:info@ninafornyc.com">info@ninafornyc.com</a>.&nbsp;We want to hear from you!

Healthy People, Healthy Democracy

American Health Security Act

Your time and energy make a huge difference in our people-powered movement.

GET INVOLVED

Nina in a DW tv interview, at the background can be seen people with disposable facemasks

“Washington is systematically dismantling our democracy, putting New York, America, and the world at risk and Congress is failing to stop it.” —Nina Schwalbe

Your time and energy make a huge difference in our people-powered movement.<ul><li>Make phone calls or knock on doors</li><li>Host an event</li><li>List as a public endorser</li><li>I'll do whatever I can!</li></ul>

Real leadership looks ahead. We must invest in science, climate resilience, and public health now, so we’re ready for the next crisis instead of scrambling after it hits.

PREPARE FOR TOMORROW

Diplomacy, Multilateralism, and Human Rights

Resilience, Climate Safety, and Pandemic Preparedness

Investing in Science

Responsible AI

Health. Housing. Transit. Safety. Nina understands how systems connect and why fixing them now matters.Nina is running for Congress because this moment demands leadership that protects what matters, rebuilds stronger, and prepares for tomorrow.

Black and white portrait of Nina with a big smile

Click this text to edit, or click this block to show more options on the sidebar.

Support Our Campaign!

<h3>Contribute now to support our campaign!</h3>

Landing Popup

INTERVIEWS &amp; NEWS

News Preview

News Post

Issues

Latest statements and press releases from Congressional candidate Nina Schwalbe, including her condemnation of Trump's unconstitutional military attack on Iran.

Press Releases | Nina Schwalbe for Congress

Press Releases

Contact Nina Schwalbe | Democrat for NY-12

Contact

Explore Nina Schwalbe's policy platform for NY-12: healthcare, housing, climate action, democracy reform, immigration, and economic justice.

Nina Schwalbe for NYC | NY-12 Policy Platform 

Platform

La demócrata Nina Schwalbe, líder en salud pública, desafía al establishment político de DC al inscribirse para competir en la primaria de NY-12.

Demócrata Nina Schwalbe al Congreso - Comunicado de prensa

Healthy People, Healthy Democracy

Your time and energy make a huge difference in our people-powered movement! Volunteer. Get involved with Team Nina for NY-12.

Get Involved in Nina Schwalbe’s campaign | Democrat for NY-12

Get Involved

Nina Schwalbe, a sixth-generation New Yorker and public health leader, is determined to make NY-12 healthier, more affordable, and more prepared for what's to come

About Nina Schwalbe | Democrat for NY-12

About Nina

Nina Schwalbe is proud to have the support of elected officials, community leaders, advocates, and neighbors across New York and around the world who believe in building a healthier, more just, inclusive, and accountable government.

Nina Schwalbe for NY-12 - Endorsements

C Prensa Guerra guerra no autorizada de Trump contra Irán

Nina Schwalbe running for congress NY-12 — In the News, Interviews, and Recent News.


Media - Nina Schwalbe | Democrat for NY-12

Media

It's time for a change! Nina has spent her career leading complex organizations and has a track record of delivering real results for real people.

Why Nina Schwalbe | Democrat for NY-12

Democrat Nina Schwalbe is a sixth-generation New Yorker and public health leader who has spent her life working hard to fix broken systems.

Nina Schwalbe for Congress | Democrat for NY-12

Home

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has b

Trump announces withdrawal from 66 global organisationsOn Jan 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum announcing the country’s withdrawal from 66 “organizations, conventions, and treaties [that] are contrary to the interests of the United States”. These include 31 UN and 35 non-UN organisations, several related to global health. Nina Schwalbe, CEO of Spark Street Advisors and Senior Scholar at Georgetown’s Center for Global Health Policy and Politics, called it “a huge blow”...

New York Post