A Very Interesting Primary Is Brewing in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn

"It is, ironically enough, the mirror image of a titanic 2024 primary that occurred just north of the city. That year, George Latimer, the popular Westchester County executive, was recruited by pro-Israel donors and activists to challenge a sitting leftist congressman, Jamaal Bowman. Bowman, a proud member of the Squad, was arguably too left-wing for his more moderate district, and Latimer, thanks to his own record and an onslaught of outside spending from a powerful Israel-backing super-PAC, won easily."

"Now it's Goldman, the incumbent congressman and proud Israel supporter, who is going to take a great deal of heat from a challenger who both resides to the left of him and, on the balance, is probably a better ideological fit for the district. Ever since Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made it clear he was not going to make Lander, who ran against him for mayor but co-endorsed him in the primary, his first deputy mayor, rumors swirled that the current city comptroller, soon to be out of a job, might run for Congress. Lander has now made it official, and he's already secured endorsements from Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and the Working Families Party."

"Just as Latimer, once he began fundraising and campaigning in earnest, became the favorite despite his insurgent status, this battle for the Tenth Congressional District is probably Lander's to lose. The district spans the vote-rich Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn Heights, and Sunset Park. Mamdani, in the primary, carried all of these neighborhoods, and Lander is very well known there, having represented many of them for 12 years in the City Council. In liberal, affluent Brooklyn, Lander is a household name, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where he's not running up the score there against Goldman."

Brad Lander has launched a challenge to incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman for New York's Tenth Congressional District. Lander has endorsements from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and the Working Families Party. Goldman is a proud Israel supporter who faces criticism from a challenger positioned to his left. The district includes Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn Heights, and Sunset Park. Lander represented many of these neighborhoods for 12 years on the City Council and is widely known across liberal, affluent Brooklyn. Lander's local profile and endorsements make him the probable favorite in the primary.

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