Brad Lander launches congressional bid in Manhattan – NBC New York

Brad Lander, the outgoing comptroller of New York Metropolis, introduced Wednesday that he’s operating for Congress, difficult U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in a Democratic main for a liberal district in decrease Manhattan and northwest Brooklyn.

Lander, a progressive ally of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, launched his marketing campaign in a video and social media posts, promising to supply “brave management within the face of Donald Trump’s assaults on New Yorkers.”

“At a second of darkish oppression, we are able to shine by preventing again collectively,” he mentioned. “Whereas the oligarchy drives an affordability disaster, they shouldn’t have the ability to purchase a seat in Congress. Whereas our immigrant neighbors are being demonized and attacked, we are able to put our our bodies on the road to guard them,” mentioned Lander within the video.

Lander has been eyeing a problem to Goldman since he misplaced the Democratic mayoral main to Mamdani this summer season.

Each Lander and Goldman have been vocal critics of the federal authorities’s deportation agenda, showing at a high-profile immigration courtroom in Manhattan to watch proceedings over the past a number of months.

Lander was arrested there twice and faces a misdemeanor obstruction cost stemming from one of many incidents.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Lander.

“Brad Lander is a relentless fighter for working folks,” mentioned Sanders, an unbiased who caucuses with Democrats. “He’s spent the previous twenty years taking over huge firms, profitable higher wages and honest working situations for New Yorkers, together with main victories for quick meals staff, supply staff, and tenants.”

Goldman, a two-term congressman and inheritor to the Levi Strauss denim fortune, is a former federal prosecutor who was lead counsel for Trump’s first impeachment. He’s thought of a reasonable Democrat, although he has supported elevating taxes on rich folks in addition to the Inexperienced New Deal local weather change proposal.

An e-mail searching for remark was despatched to Goldman’s marketing campaign.

Lander, who can be a former metropolis council member, will depart workplace as comptroller subsequent yr after deciding to not search reelection.

Lander and Mamdani endorsed each other through the mayoral main in an effort, as a part of town’s ranked selection voting system, to affix forces in opposition to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who on the time was the front-runner.

The partnership appeared to assist them each. Mamdani’s help boosted Lander among the many progressive base, whereas the backing of a high-profile Jewish candidate helped Mamdani as he confronted assaults over his criticism of the Israeli authorities’s army actions in Gaza.