Due to redistricting, two top congressional Democrats to battle it out for New York’s 12th district

The bitter Democratic primary in New York City’s 12th congressional district between Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler is on track to result in one of the senior members of Congress leaving office.

In an unusual turn of events, Nadler and Maloney were placed in the same seat, the 12th, during the redistricting process, leaving New York voters to choose between two city titans with entrenched power bases.

Also running in the race is 38-year-old progressive Suraj Patel, former Obama staffer and attorney.

The winner of the primary will be all but guaranteed to win the seat in November’s general election.

The race has already been nasty, with Nadler and Maloney trading barbs over everything from who is more progressive to who did a better job responding to the September 11th attacks.

Nadler has tried to tie Maloney to Republican President Donald Trump, while Maloney has gone after Nadler for not doing enough to stop Trump’s agenda.

The two candidates have also sparred over their records on women’s issues, with Maloney painting Nadler as someone who is out of touch with the needs of women and Nadler hitting back by highlighting Maloney’s vote against the Affordable Care Act.

The race has taken on added urgency in the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, with Nadler and Maloney both trying to position themselves as the best candidate to protect Roe v. Wade and reproductive rights.

Nadler has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, while Maloney has been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America.

The winner of the race will be well positioned to help shape the future of the Democratic Party in Congress, as well as spearhead investigations into the Trump administration should Democrats take back control of the House in November.