Brad Lander, the former New York City comptroller, defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in Tuesday's Democratic primary, according to the Associated Press, in a race that underscored the persistent strength of the progressive left in congressional contests this cycle.
Lander's win came with backing from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsement carried significant weight in the left-leaning district. The two had previously cross-endorsed each other in efforts to block Andrew Cuomo's return to elected office, building a relationship that positioned Lander to challenge Goldman from the left.
Goldman, despite serving as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, faced criticism from his district's liberal base over his unwavering support for Israel. Lander seized on that opening, positioning himself as a liberal Zionist who would take a more skeptical stance toward Israeli government policies in Congress.
The primary represented a broader dynamic playing out across the country. Progressive candidates have mounted successful challenges to moderate and establishment-backed Democrats from California to Maine, leveraging grassroots anger toward party leadership to unseat sitting House members.
The race also pitted Mamdani directly against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who backed Goldman as part of his broader strategy of supporting incumbents. Goldman becomes the third Democratic House incumbent to lose a primary in 2024, following Reps. Al Green and Julie Johnson, both of Texas.
Goldman's defeat may signal continued vulnerability for older and more moderate incumbents facing primary challenges from younger, more left-leaning opponents. Several such races remain on the calendar.
Author James Rodriguez: "The left's winning formula in Democratic primaries continues to work: find an establishment incumbent vulnerable on a single defining issue, pair that with an insurgent candidate backed by a rising party figure, and let grassroots energy do the rest."
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