On a brisk September evening in New York City, the energy inside the Jews For Racial And Economic Justice’s Mazals Gala was palpable. At the center of the celebration stood Zohran Mamdani, the city’s newly elected mayor, and Brad Lander, its outgoing comptroller. Their alliance—cemented by shared progressive ideals and a public embrace onstage—was a harbinger of the city’s shifting political winds. But as the confetti settled, questions about the future of both men, and the city they seek to shape, remained far from settled.
Just months earlier, Lander had thrown his political weight behind Mamdani, declaring, “I’m proud to be a Jew for Zohran,” as reported by JTA. The two had become closely associated throughout the Democratic primary, with Lander’s endorsement helping to allay concerns among Jewish voters about Mamdani’s positions on Israel and his lack of executive experience. Lander, a self-described liberal Zionist, worked to reinforce Mamdani’s commitment to the safety of Jewish New Yorkers, even bringing him to Rosh Hashanah and Kol Nidre services at progressive synagogues. “Having an immigrant Muslim mayor with a genuinely inclusive vision—and that brilliant smile—it offers us a chance for us to strengthen what is, for so many of us, so deeply Jewish about this city,” Lander told the gala crowd. “And that’s why I’m proud to be a Jew for Zohran.”
Yet, beneath the surface, political maneuvering was already underway. As Mamdani filled out his City Hall leadership team, Lander—who had reportedly angled for a top position—was left without a role when his tenure as comptroller ends next month. Instead, a new chapter beckoned: a potential run for Congress in New York’s 10th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Dan Goldman.
“There are many ways to serve, and I will have more to say about the ones that I am looking forward to in the future,” Lander teased at a recent event for Standing Together, an Israel-Palestinian peace-building organization, according to JTA. Supporters rallied around him, eager to canvas and vote should he launch a campaign. Lander later confirmed to Crain’s New York Business that he is “very seriously considering” a challenge to Goldman in the 2026 midterm Democratic primary—a race that would pit a Jewish progressive against a Jewish centrist in a district encompassing Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, including Borough Park’s large Orthodox Jewish community.
The political calculus is complicated. A September poll by Data for Progress gave Lander a commanding 52% to 33% lead over Goldman in a hypothetical two-man contest. Progressive activists, frustrated with Goldman’s ties to AIPAC and his centrist positions, have circulated “Dump Dan” flyers and voiced support for Lander. “I would love to see Brad in Congress,” said Arlene Geiger, founder of the Upper West Side Action Group, highlighting Lander’s progressive credentials and criticizing Goldman’s stance on the Middle East.
However, Democratic strategist Trip Yang cautioned that early polls are unreliable and incumbency brings significant advantages. He pointed to City Council member Alexa Aviles, who could also enter the race and potentially split the progressive vote. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which initially pledged neutrality in any race involving Lander, has since voted to back Aviles, a longtime member. Still, sources cited by The New York Times reported that Mamdani himself encouraged Lander to challenge Goldman, even as he declined to offer him a City Hall post.
Meanwhile, Mamdani’s political star continues to rise, albeit not without controversy. Just days after his mayoral victory, he called on supporters to boycott Starbucks in solidarity with striking union baristas. “As of today, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE,” the union posted, urging the public to “DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike!” as reported by The Economic Times. Mamdani’s support for the boycott underscored his commitment to labor rights and his willingness to leverage his newfound influence for national causes.
The Starbucks strike, which began on November 14, 2025, saw workers in more than 25 US cities walk out on “Red Cup Day,” a major sales event for the coffee giant. Starbucks Workers United, representing about 9,000 of the company’s 200,000-plus baristas, accused the corporation of stalling contract negotiations and filed over 1,000 unfair labor practice complaints since 2023. Despite the disruption, Starbucks reported that 99.9% of its stores remained open. The company has also faced criticism for abruptly closing hundreds of stores, including 59 unionized locations, a move decried by labor advocates.
Mamdani’s platform—promising free buses, a rent freeze, and free child care for New Yorkers—has galvanized supporters but provoked fierce opposition from conservatives and some business leaders. Nowhere was this backlash more visible than in a video message released by Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight. In the video, Voight warned that Mamdani would “take down the city that never sleeps,” describing the mayor-elect as a “communist fool” and urging President Donald Trump to intervene. “This mayor will destroy this city,” Voight declared, charging that Mamdani’s policies threatened private property, businesses, and individual rights. “He, and only he, can stop this horror as this mayor, Mamdani, will try to destroy New York’s wealth and turn it into a socialist crap city,” Voight said, according to Fox News.
Voight’s comments reflect a broader divide over New York’s political direction. While celebrities like Cynthia Nixon have celebrated Mamdani as a visionary leader, others, including comedian Michael Rapaport, have criticized him for perceived hypocrisy and questioned his qualifications. The city’s Jewish community, too, remains divided. Some see Lander’s alliance with Mamdani as a bridge to a more inclusive future, while others, like conservative commentator Seth Mandel, argue that Lander has enabled the erosion of Jewish political influence in New York. “Lander has played an important role in this collapse by being a sherpa of sorts for rising Jew-baiters,” Mandel wrote in Commentary.
Throughout the election, Lander’s rhetoric on Israel evolved notably. Initially cautious, he began describing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” during a Yom Kippur service in October—a shift he attributes to conversations with his daughter about the writings of Raphael Lemkin, the Holocaust survivor who coined the term. “You can continue to be a liberal Zionist who believes in the vision of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and be honest about what Israel has been doing to Palestinians in Gaza, and the West Bank as well,” Lander explained, according to JTA.
As the city prepares for a new era under Mamdani’s leadership, the political landscape remains in flux. Lander, for his part, has made clear he intends to “continue to work in close partnership” with Mamdani to achieve progressive goals, regardless of his next official role. Whether that means a congressional campaign or another avenue of public service, one thing is certain: the alliances, rivalries, and debates of 2025 will shape New York’s future for years to come.
In a city defined by its restless energy and relentless reinvention, the drama unfolding among its political class is as unpredictable—and as consequential—as ever.
