Brad Lander Defeats Rep. Dan Goldman in Major Upset as Progressive Wing Scores Key Victory
NEW YORK — Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a self-described liberal Zionist backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in New York’s Democratic congressional primary, delivering a major victory for the party’s progressive wing and ending the House career of one of the most prominent Democrats associated with President Donald Trump’s first impeachment.
The result marks one of the most significant Democratic primary upsets of the 2026 election cycle and represents a major test of Mamdani’s growing political influence following his rise to New York’s highest office. Lander entered the race with endorsements from Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and several progressive organizations, positioning himself as a challenger to what he characterized as the Democratic establishment. (RELATED: Micah Lasher Defeats George Conway, Jack Schlossberg In Primary To Replace Jerry Nadler)
Goldman, meanwhile, had become nationally known for serving as lead counsel during Trump’s first impeachment investigation before winning election to Congress in 2022. He was backed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and much of New York’s Democratic establishment.
Impeachment Figure Falls
Goldman’s defeat is particularly notable because of his prominent role during Trump’s first term.
Before entering Congress, Goldman served as chief investigative counsel for House Democrats during the impeachment inquiry into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. He later won a crowded Democratic primary in New York’s 10th Congressional District and became one of the party’s most visible voices on legal and constitutional issues.
But his congressional tenure increasingly placed him at odds with New York’s ascendant progressive movement.
Lander criticized Goldman throughout the campaign as insufficiently aggressive on economic issues and too closely aligned with establishment Democratic politics. The two candidates also clashed repeatedly over campaign finance, party strategy, and U.S. policy toward Israel. (RELATED: Brooklyn Coffee Shop Faces Firestorm After Publicly Shaming, Banning Congressman Over Pro-Israel Views)
A Liberal Zionist Wins Progressive Support
One of the more unusual aspects of the race was Lander’s position on Israel.
Unlike many progressive candidates backed by Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, Lander identifies as a liberal Zionist and has longstanding ties to Jewish communal organizations. He has defended Israel’s right to exist while also sharply criticizing Israeli government policies and advocating for Palestinian rights.
That stance allowed Lander to build a coalition that crossed ideological lines within New York’s Democratic electorate.
Political analysts have noted that Mamdani’s political coalition increasingly includes both anti-Zionist activists and liberal Zionists dissatisfied with more traditional pro-Israel Democratic politicians. Lander’s victory may be one of the clearest examples of that emerging alliance.
Left-Wing Insurgents Keep Toppling Party Favorites
As Mediate reported, Goldman’s defeat was not the only victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, with left-wing candidates securing wins in races across New York:
CNN commentator Van Jones said the Democratic establishment was handed a decisive defeat in Tuesday’s primaries in New York.
Mayor Zohrani Mamdani endorsed three leftist candidates vying for congressional seats, all of whom won on Tuesday night. Two of them faced off against sitting members of Congress.
Brad Lander, the former NYC comptroller, crushed Rep. Dan Goldman to earn the nomination in the 10th district. Darializa Avila Chevalier, a union organizer, defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th district. And state Rep. Claire Valdez trounced Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the 7th district.
At the time Mediaite published its report, Lander held a commanding 33-point advantage over Goldman, while Chevalier maintained a narrower 3.5-point lead, and Valdez was ahead by 20 points.
Major Victory for Mamdani
The outcome is also being viewed as an important early test of Mamdani’s influence.
Since becoming mayor, Mamdani has sought to expand the reach of New York’s progressive movement by endorsing candidates challenging incumbent Democrats and establishment-backed contenders. Several of his endorsed candidates were on the ballot in Tuesday’s congressional primaries.
The Goldman-Lander contest attracted particular attention because it pitted Mamdani’s political network against forces aligned with Jeffries and other Democratic leaders.
Lander’s victory is likely to strengthen arguments that the progressive wing continues gaining ground within New York Democratic politics despite repeated predictions that the movement had peaked.
Democratic Divide on Display
The race reflected broader tensions shaping the Democratic Party nationally.
Many of the party’s most competitive primaries this year have become contests between progressive challengers seeking structural change and more moderate or establishment Democrats emphasizing experience and pragmatism. New York has become one of the primary battlegrounds for that debate.
Questions surrounding Israel, campaign finance, housing affordability, and economic inequality all played prominent roles in the campaign. Lander argued that Democratic voters wanted a more aggressive response to rising costs and growing economic frustration, while Goldman emphasized experience and his record in Congress.
What Comes Next
Because New York’s 10th Congressional District is overwhelmingly Democratic, Lander is now heavily favored to win the general election and succeed Goldman in Congress.
His expected arrival in Washington would add another progressive voice to the House Democratic caucus and further strengthen the influence of politicians aligned with Mamdani, Sanders, and Warren.
For Goldman, the loss marks a dramatic end to a political career that rose rapidly from impeachment prosecutor to member of Congress.
For Mamdani, it represents evidence that his political brand continues to resonate beyond City Hall.
And for Democrats nationally, it offers another sign that the battle between the party’s progressive and establishment wings remains far from settled.
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