Lander defeats Goldman in Democratic primary for New York's 10th District
While Mamdani backed Lander, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) took Goldman’s side, endorsing the incumbent in early January.
Lander and Goldman sparred off the bat over typical left-wing vs. centrist Democratic issues that have dominated the 2026 primary cycle. Debates over support for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, policies dealing with corporate regulations, and their approaches to the Trump administration dominated the primary in the district covering lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn.
The two candidates, both Jewish, had vastly different campaign strategies when it came to talking about Israel. While Goldman defended his pro-Israel stance throughout the election, Lander had called Israel’s campaign in Gaza “genocide”. Lander kicked off his campaign slamming AIPAC and Goldman’s decision to accept donations from the group, as he vowed not to take their money.
In terms of economic issues, Lander blasted Goldman as a “corporate Democrat” and said he would support New York’s working families through supporting increased taxes on the rich and union organizing. But Goldman clapped back at Lander’s assessment and called himself the working families candidate who is “beholden to no one” in an interview with CBS News, pointing to his sponsoring of the Robinhood Act to tax the ultrawealthy.
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Lander, who had unsuccessfully run for New York City mayor in 2025, also made headlines for getting arrested for an anti-ICE protest at a court hearing for illegal immigrants. Lander was acquitted of the obstruction charges by U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo in June 2026.
There was no Republican primary for the deep-blue seat that Goldman won by an over 66-point margin in 2024. The other general election candidates, in addition to Lander, include Jennifer Moore of the Conservative Party and Nickie Kane of the No Kings Party.