NEW YORK (VINnews) — Michael R. Bloomberg, the Jewish billionaire and former New York City mayor, plans to spend up to $5 million through a super PAC to support Assemblyman Micah Lasher in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler, according to The New York Times.

Lasher, 44, a former aide to Bloomberg and the city’s top Albany lobbyist under his mayoralty, faces a star-studded Democratic field including Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy. Bloomberg’s endorsement Thursday and planned ad blitz aim to boost Lasher’s profile in the wealthy Manhattan district, which includes Bloomberg’s Midtown headquarters and Upper East Side home.

The spending, funneled through Stand for New York PAC, could cover mail, TV, and digital advertising, according to sources familiar with the plan. Lasher has said he opposes unchecked political spending but views Bloomberg’s support as different from corporate super PAC efforts.

The primary is shaping up as one of the nation’s most closely watched contests, with multiple candidates yet to break 25 percent in polls. Nadler has endorsed Lasher, while former Rep. Carolyn Maloney backs Assemblyman Alex Bores.

Bloomberg, 84, remains a powerful force in New York politics, having spent billions on his own campaigns and other Democratic candidates nationwide