New York City Comptroller Brad Lander launched his bid for New York’s tenth Congressional District on Wednesday, difficult Rep. Dan Goldman in what is predicted to be a heated primary in one of many metropolis’s most left-leaning districts.
The race will function a check for the town’s left-leaning progressive motion after it most lately helped ship Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s win. It can also be prone to showcase Democrats’ shifting views on Israel, with Lander tying Goldman to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which backs pro-Israeli candidates.
“The challenges we face can’t be solved with strongly worded letters or high-dollar fundraisers, and not by doing AIPAC’s bidding in a district that knows our safety, our freedom, our thriving is bound up together,” Lander mentioned in the video.
Goldman’s marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Mamdani, a robust critic of the Israeli authorities, introduced his assist for Lander, calling him an ally at the same time as their political relationship has showed cracks in current months. Lander, who’s Jewish, cross-endorsed with Mamdani in the final weeks of the primary race for mayor however didn’t get a place at City Hall as many anticipated.
“Brad’s unwavering principles, deep knowledge, and sincere empathy are what make him a true leader,” Mamdani mentioned in a assertion. “He has been a trusted ally and partner of mine and I’m proud to support him as I know he’ll continue delivering for those who need government to show up for them the most.”
Lander, 56, has been a a part of New York City’s political panorama for years. He beforehand served in the City Council for a decade representing components of Brooklyn and most lately ran in the town’s crowded Democratic primary for mayor the place he garnered huge assist amongst voters, coming in third behind Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Lander has additionally secured the assist of Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and is predicted to get the assist of the Working Families Party in New York City, which has a vital get out the vote operation.
As comptroller, Lander oversees the town’s pension funds and investments, he made headlines earlier this 12 months after the Trump administration revoked hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in funding from the town’s financial institution accounts.
In the lead-up to the mayoral primary, Lander was arrested inside federal immigration court in Lower Manhattan after he tried to stop an undocumented man from being taken into custody by federal brokers. Lander has persistently highlighted the problem for months, persevering with to point out up contained in the halls of the federal constructing the place dozens of migrants are routinely taken into custody once they present up for routine immigration courtroom appearances.
Any anticipation that the progressive subject can be cut up amongst candidates rapidly fizzled out shortly after Lander’s announcement. Councilmember Alexa Aviles, who had been anticipated to run in the race and secured the backing of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, introduced she wouldn’t run.