Rep. Dan Goldman is facing the toughest political fight of his congressional career as former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander gains traction in a bitter Democratic primary battle that is quickly turning into a full-scale civil war on the left.
Lander, a longtime progressive figure in New York politics, has emerged as a serious challenger to Goldman in New York’s 10th Congressional District, a deep-blue seat covering Lower Manhattan and several wealthy Brooklyn neighborhoods.
The race is shaping up as a clash between establishment Democrats and the party’s activist wing, with Goldman backed by top New York Democratic leaders while Lander continues building support from progressive heavyweights.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have both endorsed Goldman, giving the congressman major institutional support as he seeks another term in Congress.
But Lander has secured endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, cementing his standing with the Democratic Party’s left flank.
The challenge marks one of the most high-profile primary threats facing an incumbent House Democrat this cycle.
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Goldman first rose to national prominence during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment battle, serving as lead counsel for House Democrats during the proceedings before later winning election to Congress in 2022.
Lander launched his campaign by casting Goldman as an out-of-touch multimillionaire disconnected from the district’s increasingly progressive base. Goldman is an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and has previously spent millions of dollars of his own money on political campaigns.
The ideological divide between the two Democrats has become especially sharp over Israel and immigration enforcement, two issues that have fueled growing tensions inside the party.
Lander has leaned heavily into progressive activism and anti-ICE messaging while attempting to tie Goldman to establishment Democratic politics that many left-wing voters have grown frustrated with since Trump returned to the White House in 2025.
Recent polling has added to Goldman’s concerns. A survey commissioned by a Goldman-supporting super PAC found Lander leading the congressman 47% to 42%, though the race remained within the poll’s margin of error.
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The district itself may also pose challenges for Goldman. Parts of NY-10 strongly backed Mamdani during New York City’s mayoral contest, underscoring the growing strength of progressive organizing operations in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding New York’s congressional maps has added another layer of volatility to the race. Ongoing legal disputes over district boundaries could potentially reshape portions of neighboring congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Despite the mounting pressure, Goldman’s allies argue he remains one of the Democratic Party’s most aggressive opponents of Trump and say his national profile gives him a major advantage in a high-turnout primary.
But with progressive groups pouring energy into the race and national Democrats increasingly divided over the party’s direction, the battle over Dan Goldman’s seat is becoming one of the clearest signs yet of where the Democratic Party may be headed next.
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