Sen. Chuck Schumer backs Rep. Jerrold Nadler over Rep. Carolyn Maloney in NY’s 12th Congressional District

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) endorsed longtime Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) in the congressman’s primary battle against veteran Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Monday, picking a side in an uptown House race that has riven local Democratic circles.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) (J. Scott Applewhite/)

“New York has a lot of outstanding leaders, but few of them lead with the courage, conviction and brilliant legislative effectiveness of my friend Jerry Nadler,” Schumer said in a statement.

Maloney, 76, and Nadler, 75, have been locked in the political deathmatch after a court-ordered redrawing smashed his Upper West Side territory and her Upper East Side district into the new 12th Congressional District. Both hopefuls were first elected to Congress in 1992.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) (J. Scott Applewhite/)

Schumer coupled his nod with a statement from his spokesman, Angelo Roefaro, expressing the senator’s “deep respect for Carolyn Maloney’s significant accomplishments in Congress.”

Nadler said in a statement that he is “grateful to have Chuck’s support in this race.”

“I’m looking forward to our continued work together to build a better, safer New York,” Nadler added in the statement.

Maloney’s campaign spokesman, Bob Liff, dismissed Schumer’s endorsement, pointing to his residency in Park Slope, Brooklyn, well beyond the district’s borders

“At a time when women’s rights are on the chopping block, we need strong women like Carolyn Maloney to carry the fight to Republicans,” Liff said in a statement. “Besides, Sen. Schumer votes in the 10th district, not the 12th.”

The redrawn 10th District, which spans the West Village in Manhattan to Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, has invited a crowded pack of competitors that briefly included former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Schumer has not endorsed in that district’s Democratic primary.

In the 12th District, Schumer’s endorsement came as the latest blow to Maloney.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) (Jacquelyn Martin/)

An Emerson College poll published Friday showed Nadler leading Maloney by nine percentage points. And on Saturday, the New York Times editorial board — seen as especially influential in the affluent district — endorsed Nadler.

Suraj Patel, a lawyer, is also running in the 12th District.

Early voting for New York’s congressional primaries started Saturday. Primary Day is next Tuesday.