Outgoing NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Throws Hat into Congressional Ring, Setting Up Progressive Showdown with Moderate Democrat Dan Goldman
In a move that's likely to energize progressive voters across New York City, outgoing Comptroller Brad Lander announced on Wednesday that he'll be running for Congress in a district that includes Lower Manhattan and northwest Brooklyn. Lander's entry into the race is seen as a major challenge to moderate pro-Israel Democrat Dan Goldman, who has been a thorn in the side of progressive voters with his hawkish stance on Israel.
Lander, who finished third in the 2025 mayoral primary, has built a reputation as a fierce critic of inequality and a champion of social justice causes. He's described himself as a "liberal Zionist" who supports a cease-fire in Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas. In contrast, Goldman has been a strong supporter of Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, which has sparked controversy among progressive voters.
The rivalry between Lander and Goldman is expected to be heated, particularly given their differing views on Israel. Goldman has faced criticism from progressives for his support of Israel's actions in the conflict, while Lander has been a vocal advocate for a two-state solution.
Lander's decision to run comes as progressives are looking to build on the momentum of Zohran Mamdani's stunning victory in the mayoral election last year. Mamdani, who won several races in 2026, is seen as a potential candidate for higher office and has been endorsed by influential progressive groups.
The Working Families Party (WFP), which played a key role in supporting Mamdani's campaign, has thrown its support behind Lander ahead of Goldman. The party's endorsement is seen as a major boost to Lander's chances in the primary.
With several high-profile Democrats, including former Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Councilmember Alexa Avilés, already out of the running, the contest for the seat is shaping up to be a brutal one. Goldmann’s campaign has released a statement touting his progressive bona fides, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to overcome Lander's growing momentum.
As the primary heats up, it's clear that progressives are on high alert. With control of Congress hanging in the balance, they're eager to take down Goldman and push their own agenda through Washington. But with Goldman's deep pockets and experience, this is shaping up to be a very different kind of contest than the one that played out last year.
In a move that's likely to energize progressive voters across New York City, outgoing Comptroller Brad Lander announced on Wednesday that he'll be running for Congress in a district that includes Lower Manhattan and northwest Brooklyn. Lander's entry into the race is seen as a major challenge to moderate pro-Israel Democrat Dan Goldman, who has been a thorn in the side of progressive voters with his hawkish stance on Israel.
Lander, who finished third in the 2025 mayoral primary, has built a reputation as a fierce critic of inequality and a champion of social justice causes. He's described himself as a "liberal Zionist" who supports a cease-fire in Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas. In contrast, Goldman has been a strong supporter of Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, which has sparked controversy among progressive voters.
The rivalry between Lander and Goldman is expected to be heated, particularly given their differing views on Israel. Goldman has faced criticism from progressives for his support of Israel's actions in the conflict, while Lander has been a vocal advocate for a two-state solution.
Lander's decision to run comes as progressives are looking to build on the momentum of Zohran Mamdani's stunning victory in the mayoral election last year. Mamdani, who won several races in 2026, is seen as a potential candidate for higher office and has been endorsed by influential progressive groups.
The Working Families Party (WFP), which played a key role in supporting Mamdani's campaign, has thrown its support behind Lander ahead of Goldman. The party's endorsement is seen as a major boost to Lander's chances in the primary.
With several high-profile Democrats, including former Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Councilmember Alexa Avilés, already out of the running, the contest for the seat is shaping up to be a brutal one. Goldmann’s campaign has released a statement touting his progressive bona fides, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to overcome Lander's growing momentum.
As the primary heats up, it's clear that progressives are on high alert. With control of Congress hanging in the balance, they're eager to take down Goldman and push their own agenda through Washington. But with Goldman's deep pockets and experience, this is shaping up to be a very different kind of contest than the one that played out last year.
! I mean, he's already making waves as Comptroller, and now he's throwing his hat into the ring? That's like a silver lining on a cloudy day 
! Plus, it's gonna be a clash of titans between Lander and Goldman - it's gonna get real 
. And with all these progressive groups jumping behind Lander, I think we might see some real changes in Washington 
. It's about time we had more representation for people who care about social justice and equality 
!
! I think Brad Lander is making a great move by running for Congress 
. He's got the momentum on his side and his progressive views are exactly what the people want to hear 
. Dan Goldman may have deep pockets, but if he can't connect with the voters, he's gonna be in trouble 
. The Working Families Party backing Lander is a huge win for him too 
. And honestly, I'm loving this underdog story 
and this race between him and dan goldman is gonna be SO intense 
. now we'll see if he can build a coalition that truly represents progressive values in new york city
if progressives want to take down goldman they gotta get on board with lander's vibe fam! it's gonna be a wild primary 
. I mean, he didn't even win in the mayoral primary last year, so what's the worst that could happen? It's all about getting his name out there and building momentum 
, like social justice and inequality.
. It'll be fun to see how this plays out over the next few months 
. One thing's for sure, it's gonna be a wild ride! 
. The WFP endorsing Lander is likely more about maintaining control than genuinely supporting progressive causes. This whole thing feels like a carefully orchestrated PR stunt to distract us from the real issues... 
dan goldman has been holding back progress on israel and inequality issues for too long, its about time someone shakes things up 
fingers crossed he wins this thing!!!
. We all know how heated those debates can get! 
and it's interesting that WFP threw their support behind him - that could be a game-changer for Lander, especially if Mamdani keeps making waves on the progressive scene 
.
and now he's gonna take on dan goldman in the congressional race... that's wild considering they were friends 
not too long ago. Goldman's been a thorn in the side of progressives with his hawkish stance on israel, so it's cool to see lander bring some heat 
... anyone else think that might be a game-changer? 
Mamdani's win last year was huge for the WFP, and now they're backing Lander 
just think about it, they'll have to deal with rush hour traffic on the subway too 
but seriously, this is gonna be a wild ride, especially if Goldman's campaign goes all guns blazing... bring on the drama 