Brad Lander, the former New York City Comptroller and one of the most prominent voices in the city's progressive movement, recorded a crushing victory Tuesday night in the Democratic primary elections for the 10th congressional district of New York, after defeating incumbent Representative Dan Goldman by a margin of 66% to 34% in the vote count. Lander, who was endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his fierce anti-Israel positions, marks with this achievement a significant turning point for the city's Democratic left wing – at the expense of one of the most prominent moderate Democrats and staunch supporters of Israel in Congress.
This represents a dramatic political achievement for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who publicly endorsed Lander and campaigned for additional progressive candidates in the primaries. Mamdani framed these races as a test of strength against the veteran Democratic establishment.
Lander, who is Jewish himself, attempted throughout the campaign to differentiate himself from Goldman primarily around the issue of Israel. In a debate between the two, he attacked Goldman for voting in favor of military aid packages to Israel, criticized him for his refusal to define the war in Gaza as a "genocide," and said that Goldman has never used the term "occupation" in relation to Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Goldman, conversely, replied that Israel is not the central issue in the district, and attempted to focus the campaign on his experience in Congress and his battles against the Trump administration.
Goldman is considered a moderate Democrat relative to the progressive wing and stood out as someone who unwaveringly supported Israel even after October 7. His long-term support for Israel and his relationship with pro-Israel figures made him a primary target for the city's radical left.
Tensions surrounding Israel found an especially sharp expression in recent days, after the Brooklyn cafe Poetica Coffee published a post against Goldman following his visit to the establishment with his 7-year-old daughter. The post, which has since been deleted, stated that if they had recognized him in real time, they would have refused to serve him, while hurling accusations of supporting "genocide." The cafe even wrote to him, "Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don't come back to Poetica." Following the incident, the US Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation. Mamdani, when asked about the matter, sufficed with a softened response, noting that "deep disagreements" exist between himself and Goldman, but adding that the case "transcends political controversy" – without issuing a clear condemnation of the cafe. Goldman himself said that it was a "sad state of affairs," though he emphasized that he prefers authorities to focus on cases of antisemitism against citizens who do not possess a public platform like his own.
Beyond Lander, Claire Valdez, another progressive candidate endorsed by Mamdani, won the primary in the 7th district of New York after defeating Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Valdez pledged to work to halt all weapons sales and military aid to Israel and to promote "Palestinian freedom," and even won the support of additional anti-Israel figures.
The victories of Lander and Valdez mark another step in the strengthening of the progressive wing in New York, which seeks to replace moderate Democrats with candidates who adopt a far harsher line against Israel – and frequently one that blurs the line between criticism of the Israeli government and political hostility toward the very support of Israel in general.
