Brad Lander Elected to Congress After Ousting Dan Goldman, Giving NYC Mayor Another Ally in Washington

Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has won election to Congress, defeating Republican Jennifer Moore in New York’s heavily Democratic 10th Congressional District and completing a political comeback that began with his stunning primary victory over incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman earlier this year.

Lander’s victory on Tuesday represents another significant political success for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsement helped propel the progressive Democrat past Goldman in June. The result sends another close Mamdani ally to Washington and strengthens the influence of the Democratic Party’s left wing within New York’s congressional delegation.

The Associated Press called the race for Lander on Tuesday evening. The district encompasses Lower Manhattan and portions of Brooklyn, including Park Slope and surrounding neighborhoods, where Democratic candidates have historically enjoyed overwhelming advantages.

Lander, who is Jewish and previously served as New York City’s comptroller, attracted considerable attention during the Democratic primary for his criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his political alliance with Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has been a vocal critic of Israel.

His victory follows one of the most consequential Democratic congressional primaries in New York this year. In June, Lander defeated Goldman, a two-term congressman who had been regarded as a strong supporter of Israel, by a substantial margin.

Goldman, an attorney who previously served as lead counsel during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment proceedings, entered the primary with considerable financial resources and the advantages of incumbency. Nevertheless, Lander successfully mobilized progressive voters who argued that the district needed a representative more closely aligned with their positions on economic policy, immigration, and Israel.

Mamdani campaigned extensively for Lander, appearing alongside him at rallies and encouraging supporters to turn out in the Democratic primary. The mayor’s involvement helped transform the contest into a broader test of his political influence beyond City Hall.

Lander also received the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders, further strengthening his standing among progressive voters.

The campaign highlighted deepening divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Goldman defended Israel’s right to protect itself against Hamas while criticizing certain decisions by the Israeli government. Lander took a substantially more critical position, arguing that American policy toward Israel required fundamental changes and calling for greater restrictions on U.S. support for Israeli military operations.

Those differences became a prominent issue in a district with a significant Jewish population, including established Orthodox communities in Brooklyn.

Lander’s positions on Israel have drawn criticism from Jewish voters and organizations concerned about the growing influence of anti-Israel activism within progressive Democratic politics.

At the same time, Lander has emphasized his Jewish identity and argued that criticism of Israeli government policies should not be equated with antisemitism.

His alliance with Mamdani has also attracted scrutiny because of the mayor’s positions on Israel and his association with the Democratic Socialists of America.

Before entering the congressional race, Lander served as New York City comptroller from 2022 through 2025, overseeing the city’s finances, auditing government agencies, and managing responsibilities related to municipal pension investments.

He previously represented portions of Brooklyn in the New York City Council, where he established himself as a leading progressive voice on housing, labor, and economic policy.

Lander also ran for mayor in 2025 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Mamdani. Rather than becoming political rivals, the two subsequently developed a close alliance, with Lander supporting Mamdani’s successful mayoral campaign.

That relationship proved politically valuable when Lander decided to challenge Goldman for Congress.

In the general election, Lander faced Moore, the Republican nominee, who campaigned against the progressive policies associated with Mamdani and the Democratic Party’s left wing.