Brad Lander, the outgoing New York City comptroller, announced Wednesday that he’s running to represent New York’s 10th Congressional District, setting up a Democratic primary challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman.
In his campaign launch video, Lander, a close ally of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, said that the current challenges “can’t be solved with strongly worded letters or high dollar fundraisers, and not by doing AIPAC’s bidding,” referring to the pro-Israel lobbying group.
“Our mayor can have an ally in Washington instead of an adversary in his own backyard,” Lander said. “At a moment of dark oppression, we can shine by fighting back together. While the oligarchy drives an affordability crisis, they shouldn’t be able to buy a seat in Congress. While our neighbors are being demonized and attacked, we can put our bodies on the line to protect them. New York is for everyone.”
Lander’s campaign has already secured endorsements from several progressive leaders, including Mamdani and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Lander, 56, who ran an unsuccessful bid for New York City mayor this year, has served as the city’s comptroller since 2022, during which time, his campaign said, he exposed the Trump administration taking $80 million in FEMA funds from the city, invested in building and saved 50,000 affordable homes, and saved taxpayers more than $2.5 billion “by rooting out fraud and waste and investing the City’s pension funds wisely.” He previously served as a member of the New York City Council.
His campaign also highlighted Lander’s efforts to speak out against Trump’s hard-line immigration policies. Earlier this year, he was arrested in connection with an incident at a federal courthouse while he and his wife were serving as advocates for defendants in immigration court. The Department of Homeland Security accused him of “assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.” Lander has denied the accusation.
The New York City comptroller also attended a rally last weekend in support of a Chinese father who is in immigration detention while his 6-year-old son is being held by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Lander will be challenging Goldman in next year’s Democratic primary for the district, which covers lower Manhattan and portions of Brooklyn where Lander lives. Goldman, 49, has held the seat since January 2023 and previously served as the lead majority counsel during the first impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
