Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in New York’s Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, capping a contentious campaign centered on Israel and the war in Gaza. The result was a strong win for the progressive wing of the party.
Lander, who is Jewish and a fierce critic of the Israeli government, capitalized on growing frustration within the Democratic Party over the Israel-Hamas war, the Wall Street Journal reported. The former comptroller of New York City won the race, which covers lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, by a margin of roughly 36% with more than half the vote counted, according to the AP.
In the predominantly blue city, the winners in the Democratic primaries are heavily favored in the November general elections.
It was a stunning loss for Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who as a congressional staffer led the first impeachment case against President Trump. After the impeachment, Goldman became a star in the Democratic Party and was elected to Congress in 2022. But Goldman’s views on Israel became a flashpoint in his re-election campaign in his matchup with Lander, who was endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez also won the primary in the 7th Congressional District, covering parts of Brooklyn and Queens, defeating Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The win for Valdez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who was also endorsed by Mamdani, is another significant pickup for the party’s left wing, the Journal reported.
Valdez secured around 58% of the vote with more than three-quarters of ballots counted, according to the AP.