Brad Lander, a Jewish candidate backed by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and strongly critical of U.S. military aid to Israel, defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the Democratic primary for New York's federal congressional seat, Israeli media report. Lander, who describes himself as a 'liberal Zionist,' attacked Goldman for insufficient opposition to the Gaza war and for not labeling it genocide.
In a significant upset, New York City Council member Brad Lander won the Democratic primary for a federal congressional seat in New York, defeating incumbent Representative Dan Goldman, according to Israeli media reports on Wednesday.
Lander, who identifies as a Jewish 'liberal Zionist,' ran a vigorous campaign against Goldman, focusing on U.S. military aid to Israel. He was backed early on by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and vocal Israel critic. Lander criticized Goldman for opposing legislation to restrict further military aid and for not labeling Israel's campaign in Gaza a 'genocide.' Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who rose to national prominence during the first Trump impeachment, was also Jewish.
The primary district leans heavily Democratic, meaning Lander is widely expected to win the November general election, where no serious Republican challenger is present. The race highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel policy and the war in Gaza, with Lander joining dissenters to the pro-Israel consensus. The Zioneer has previously reported on Mamdani's broader political influence, including campaigning with pro-Hamas influencers.
2 developments
- DevelopingMamdani-backed primary sweep deepens anti-Zionist foothold in New York City
- DevelopingPro-Palestine organizer defeats five-term incumbent in New York Democratic primary
- StrongJewish anti-Israel candidate Brad Lander ejected from pro-Palestinian protest after being called 'Zionist scrotum'
- DevelopingGaza emerges as defining issue for Gen Z voters in New York Democratic primaries
Source and signal
- Open-source intake