NEW YORK — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander launched a primary challenge against first-term incumbent Representative Dan Goldman on Wednesday, setting the stage for a contentious battle for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 10th Congressional District. The announcement was immediately followed by a swift and coordinated consolidation of the party’s progressive wing, signaling a deliberate strategy to unseat Goldman in the upcoming June primary.

In a video released Wednesday morning, Lander, a prominent figure in the city’s progressive political scene, took direct aim at Goldman, a former federal prosecutor and heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune.

“The challenges we face can’t be solved with strongly worded letters or high dollar fundraisers, and not by doing AIPAC’s bidding,” Lander stated in the video, referencing the influential pro-Israel lobbying group. “While the oligarchy drives an affordability crisis, they shouldn’t be able to buy a seat in Congress.”

Lander’s entry into the race triggered a rapid alignment of progressive forces. The Working Families Party, a key progressive organization, issued an endorsement shortly after his announcement. In a joint statement, the party’s co-directors, Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper, praised Lander’s record. “We are extremely proud to endorse his campaign for Congress in NY-10, because we know he will represent New Yorkers with the same moral courage and determination that he has demonstrated throughout his time in public office,” they wrote.

Further solidifying the unified front, Brooklyn City Council member Alexa Avilés, who had been considered another potential progressive challenger, announced she would not run and instead threw her support behind Lander. The move was echoed by a powerful endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders, a national leader of the progressive movement.

This quick coalescence is a direct reaction to the 2022 Democratic primary, which saw a crowded field of progressive and left-leaning candidates, including Yuh-Line Niou, City Council Member Carlina Rivera, and former Congressman Mondaire Jones. The fractured vote allowed Goldman, who partially self-funded his campaign with $4 million, to win the nomination with a narrow plurality.

Mindful of that outcome, Niou confirmed on Wednesday via a social media post that she had decided against running this year, explicitly stating her desire to avoid a scenario where Goldman could again prevail over a divided opposition. The race for the district, which covers Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn including Park Slope and Sunset Park, is widely expected to be decided in the Democratic primary.

Responding to the challenge, a spokesperson for Goldman’s campaign, Maddy Rosen, stated that the congressman remains focused on his duties. Goldman, Rosen said, “is focused on stopping the Trump administration from what they’re doing to immigrant families in his district right now.” She added that the congressman is “proud of his progressive record in Congress and will deal with Brad and other challengers in the new year.”

A central fault line in the race is the candidates’ differing approaches to the war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The conflict has become a litmus test within the Democratic party. Both Lander and Goldman are Jewish and have identified as Zionists. However, Lander has aligned himself with the party’s progressive wing, which has been highly critical of Israel’s military campaign that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza.

In the previous election cycle, Goldman’s campaign received $194,350 from members of AIPAC. While he has described the situation in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” he has largely maintained support for Israel. In contrast, many progressive Democrats, including Lander, have pledged not to accept contributions from the lobbying group, a decision that critics in both parties argue unfairly singles out Jewish political participation.

The race is also being shaped by New York City’s new political leadership. Mayor-elect Zorhan Mamdani, who won his election on a platform that included sharp criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, has endorsed Lander. In a statement first reported by The New York Times, Mamdani called Lander a “true leader” with “unwavering principles, deep knowledge and sincere empathy.”

“He has been a trusted ally and partner of mine and I’m proud to support him as I know he’ll continue delivering for those who need government to show up for them the most,” Mamdani stated.

The endorsement follows a complex history between the two. Lander, who has served as NYC Comptroller since 2022, mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic mayoral nomination before dropping out and endorsing Mamdani. Lander had reportedly been considered for the high-ranking post of first deputy mayor in the Mamdani administration, a role that ultimately went to Dean Fuleihan.

Mamdani’s involvement in the NY-10 primary is his second major intervention in a congressional race. He previously played a role in dissuading City Council member Chi Ossé from launching a primary challenge against House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, another race where a candidate’s stance on AIPAC was a central issue.

With the field now clearly defined, the primary is shaping up to be a direct contest between Goldman’s more moderate, establishment-aligned wing of the party and a newly unified progressive movement rallying behind Lander.