Mamdani-backed campaign launches amid reshuffling of city Democratic leadership
Comptroller Lander Launches Congressional Bid with Mayor-Elect’s Support
In a development that underscores the shifting landscape of progressive politics in New York City, Comptroller Brad Lander announced his candidacy for Congress in New York’s 10th District on Tuesday, December 10, 2025, with robust support from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The move represents a continuation of the political alliance forged during the mayoral primary, when Mamdani and Lander cross-endorsed each other as ranked-choice voting partners. That collaboration contributed significantly to both candidates’ eventual success, with Mamdani defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the primary and Lander maintaining his comptroller position through strong voter support. Lander’s congressional entry signals the maturation and consolidation of power among the city’s democratic socialist contingent, even as the movement faces the practical challenges of governing a major American metropolis.
Building on a Cross-Endorsement Success
Lander’s 2025 mayoral campaign benefited substantially from Mamdani’s strategic endorsement, which encouraged voters to rank Lander second on their ballots. The partnership proved effective in the ranked-choice voting system, allowing both candidates to consolidate progressive support against more moderate candidates including City Comptroller Brad Lander himself during the primary phase. Following the general election, Mamdani reciprocated by endorsing Lander’s congressional ambitions. “Zohran Mamdani is supporting Brad Lander’s congressional campaign,” reported ABC7 New York, noting that Lander’s campaign announcement video featured footage of his arrest at federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan while advocating for immigrants’ rights.
A Campaign Rooted in Activism and Record
Lander’s candidacy emphasizes his decades of public service as a housing organizer, City Councilmember, and Comptroller. His campaign launch video invoked Fred Rogers’ “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” as an inspirational model, with Lander stating: “Democracy is just neighbors working together to make our lives in common better.” The Comptroller has built his national profile particularly through immigration advocacy, including his involvement in attempting to observe immigrant processing at federal court facilities. Earlier in 2025, Lander drew national attention alongside a group of state lawmakers when they were arrested while attempting to observe the conditions and treatment of immigrants at court in lower Manhattan. The arrest, conducted by ICE agents, resulted in low-level misdemeanor charges of trespassing and blocking federal operations. Lander opted to take his case to trial and pleaded not guilty on Friday to the charges, positioning his immigration advocacy as a central dimension of his political identity heading into the congressional race.
Elite Endorsements Signal Progressive Alignment
Lander’s congressional campaign has attracted endorsements from prominent national figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has also endorsed Lander’s bid, alongside New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes and New York State Assemblymember Robert Carroll. Most significantly, the New York Working Families Party endorsed Lander on Tuesday night of his campaign announcement week, a development that reinforces the organizational backing the candidate commands among the party’s institutional infrastructure.
Dan Goldman’s Response and the Democratic Primary Landscape
Representative Dan Goldman, who currently holds the NY-10 congressional seat, released a measured statement regarding Lander’s primary challenge. “Dan is focused on stopping the Trump administration from what they’re doing to immigrant families in his district right now. He’s proud of his progressive record in Congress and will deal with Brad and other challengers in the new year,” a Goldman campaign spokesperson stated to ABC7 New York. The response suggests Goldman, a Democrat with his own progressive credentials, does not view Lander as an existential threat but rather as a standard competitive primary challenge. New York’s 10th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, remains solidly Democratic in a presidential election year, suggesting that the primary outcome may effectively determine the general election victor.
Lander’s Record as Comptroller
During his tenure as New York City Comptroller, Lander has compiled a record that demonstrates both activist credentials and fiscal responsibility. According to his campaign materials, Lander “exposed Donald Trump’s theft of $80 million in FEMA funds and forced the City into court to get it back.” His office has also claimed responsibility for “saving taxpayers over $2.5 billion by rooting out fraud and waste and investing the City’s pension funds wisely.” Additionally, Lander’s administration has “divested from fossil fuels, and invested in building or saving 50,000 affordable homes,” according to campaign statements. These accomplishments position Lander as having delivered progressive results within a fiscal stewardship framework that may appeal to voters concerned about both social justice and budgetary accountability.
Implications for Progressive Succession
Lander’s congressional run, supported by the incoming mayor, suggests that Mamdani’s administration will likely work to advance a cohesive progressive agenda across multiple levels of government. The coordination between Mamdani and Lander demonstrates that unlike previous progressive movements in New York politics, the contemporary democratic socialist movement appears to have developed institutional mechanisms for supporting allied candidates across offices. This represents a maturation from earlier progressive campaigns that often lacked coordination infrastructure. Whether this organizational capacity translates into electoral success at the congressional level, where Lander will face a well-established incumbent in a Democratic primary and a conservative general election opponent, remains to be determined. What is clear is that the political movement that elevated Mamdani to citywide office intends to expand its influence beyond municipal government into state and federal representation.
Authority Links for Further Reading:
ABC7: Brad Lander Congressional Campaign Launch | Brooklyn Paper: Lander Congressional Bid Details | Wikipedia: Zohran Mamdani and Progressive Movement
