Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman was defeated in New York City’s Democratic primary on Tuesday, with former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander emerging victorious in a race that underscored growing divisions within the party over Israel and highlighted the expanding political influence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Lander’s victory in New York’s 10th Congressional District marked another success for candidates aligned with Mamdani, whose supporters have increasingly challenged incumbent Democrats as the mayor seeks to reshape the city’s political landscape following his breakthrough electoral success last year.

The loss made Goldman the fifth sitting member of the U.S. House to be unseated in a primary election during the 2026 cycle, reflecting broader dissatisfaction among many Democratic voters with the party’s established leadership.

Goldman had long been viewed as one of the Democratic Party’s emerging figures, gaining national attention for serving as lead counsel during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment proceedings. Since narrowly capturing a crowded primary contest in 2022, he had become a prominent critic of the Trump administration, particularly on issues such as immigration and abortion rights. His campaign also benefited from substantial personal financial resources and support from prominent Democrats, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and several influential labor organizations.

Despite those advantages, Goldman faced mounting opposition within a district that stretches into rapidly changing neighborhoods of Brooklyn, where his positions on Israel became a central issue. Goldman, who is Jewish, received support from both the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and J Street, a more liberal pro-Israel advocacy organization that also endorsed his candidacy.

Throughout the campaign, Goldman attempted to present himself as both progressive and supportive of Israel, arguing that criticism of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and opposition to aspects of the war against Hamas in Gaza could coexist with continued American military support for Israel.

Lander, who is also Jewish, took a markedly different approach. He has sharply criticized Israel’s leadership and its handling of the Gaza conflict, describing the war as a “genocide.” He pledged to support legislation imposing additional limits on U.S. military assistance to Israel and repeatedly highlighted Goldman’s backing from AIPAC in an effort to appeal to Democratic voters who have grown increasingly critical of Israel.

The challenger also benefited from a close political alliance with Mamdani. During Lander’s unsuccessful mayoral campaign, the two forged a partnership that continued into this race. Lander further strengthened his standing among progressives by securing endorsements from prominent national figures, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Another key theme of Lander’s campaign was opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. He frequently appeared in federal immigration court to advocate for defendants and drew national attention last year when he was arrested following a confrontation with federal officers. Earlier this month, a judge acquitted him of misdemeanor charges stemming from that incident.

Lander also pointed to his years of experience on the New York City Council and his tenure as the city’s comptroller, arguing that his record in government positioned him to take office immediately and respond to what many Democrats view as an urgent need to challenge the Trump administration.

{Matzav.com}