New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has officially entered the race for Congress, launching a Democratic primary challenge against Rep. Dan Goldman for the district covering lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn.
“I’ve always believed that you fight for the things you love, and I love this city,” Lander said in a campaign video. “I love the streets where I walked my kids to school, the public schools that nurtured their curiosity, the fields in Prospect Park where I coached their Little League games, and most of all, the people who make this city what it is.”
Lander emphasized the need for lawmakers who will confront former President Donald Trump and collaborate with city leadership to make New York more affordable and inclusive. Lander, a close ally of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, framed his campaign as a continuation of progressive values in the 10th District.
The comptroller has secured endorsements from high-profile progressives, including Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “Brad Lander is a relentless fighter for working people,” Sanders said. “He’s spent the past two decades challenging large corporations and winning better wages and fair conditions for New Yorkers, from fast food and delivery workers to tenants.”
Having previously run in the Democratic mayoral primary, Lander expressed his support for Mamdani, saying his congressional bid would create a cooperative relationship between the city and Washington.
Lander’s campaign is being closely watched as a measure of the influence of the progressive wing in heavily liberal districts. Goldman, the incumbent, benefits from his established position in Congress and considerable personal wealth as an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune.
A spokeswoman for Goldman, Maddy Rosen, said he is “proud of his progressive record in Congress and will address Brad and other challengers in the new year.”