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 combating again collectively,” he mentioned. “Whereas the oligarchy drives an affordability disaster, they shouldn’t be capable 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.
He additionally evoked the late kids’s TV host Fred Rogers in his video, singing “Would you be mine? Might you be mine? Gained’t you be my neighbor?”
“I do know it’s corny, however I like the concept democracy is simply neighbors working collectively to make our lives in widespread higher,” mentioned Lander, who scheduled a public speech about his marketing campaign Wednesday night close to his house in Brooklyn.
Lander has been eyeing a problem to Goldman since he misplaced the Democratic mayoral main to Mamdani this summer time.
In his endorsement, Mamdani praised Lander’s “unwavering rules, deep data, and honest empathy.”
“He has been a trusted ally and associate of mine and I’m proud to assist him as I do know he’ll proceed delivering for individuals who want authorities to indicate up for them probably the most,” Mamdani added.
Each Lander and Goldman have been vocal critics of the federal authorities’s deportation agenda, showing at a high-profile immigration court docket 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 additionally endorsed Lander.
“Brad Lander is a relentless fighter for working individuals,” mentioned Sanders, an unbiased who caucuses with Democrats. “He’s spent the previous 20 years taking up large companies, successful higher wages and truthful working circumstances 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 average Democrat, although he has supported elevating taxes on rich individuals 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 the 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 assist 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 navy actions in Gaza.
Related Press author Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.