Brad Lander
Won the June 23 Democratic primary, defeating incumbent Rep. Daniel Goldman
Brad Lander is the former New York City Comptroller (2022–2026) and a former New York City Council member for District 39 in Brooklyn (2010–2021). He defeated incumbent Rep. Daniel Goldman in the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary and is running with the endorsement of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.[1]
On the record — official actions
- action2024-11-20 · As NYC Comptroller, released an audit (published November 20, 2024) finding NYCHA paid vendors $135.6 million in smaller purchases (under $50,000, including routine repairs and maintenance) during 2022 and 2023 with far less oversight than larger contracts, and that 46% of the value of purchase orders examined ($301,678 of $648,786) lacked evidence the work was performed; called for a new vendor scorecard based on real-time resident feedback.[5]
- vote2016-10-27 · Sponsored Int. No. 1017-C, the Freelance Isn't Free Act, requiring written contracts and timely payment for freelance workers; passed the City Council 51-0 on October 27, 2016.[11]
- vote2019-04-18 · Voted yes on Int. No. 1253-C, the Climate Mobilization Act (Local Law 97 of 2019), setting greenhouse-gas emissions limits for large buildings, which passed the City Council 45-2 on April 18, 2019.[9]
- vote2021-09-23 · Voted yes on Int. No. 2294-A, establishing minimum per-trip payments for third-party food-delivery and courier-service workers, which passed the City Council 40-3 (as part of a coupled vote with related bills) on September 23, 2021.[10]
- billAs a City Council member, was the lead sponsor of New York City's plastic bag fee/ban and Styrofoam ban bills, and was an early sponsor of the Council's waste equity and commercial waste zone legislation.[8]
- billAccording to his campaign biography, delivered job protections for freelancers and fast-food workers and a $15 minimum wage for delivery workers and Uber drivers as a City Council member.[1]
- actionCo-founded the New York City Council's Progressive Caucus during his time on the Council.[1]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports restoring expired ACA premium subsidies and opposes Republican efforts to cut Medicare and Medicaid.[3]
“Last year, Republicans voted to double people's premiums on the exchanges, to rip healthcare away from people, to cut Medicare and Medicaid.”
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Campaign platform calls for taxing wealthy individuals and billionaires more aggressively.[4]
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Campaign platform calls for increasing apartment construction along with housing vouchers to address affordability.[4]
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Campaign describes opposition to federal immigration enforcement actions, framing them as targeting immigrant neighbors.[4]
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes
As a City Council member, voted yes on the Climate Mobilization Act (Local Law 97), which set greenhouse-gas emissions limits for large buildings.[9]
- SupportsRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes
As a City Council member, voted yes on the bill setting a minimum per-trip payment rate for app-based food delivery workers.[10]
In their words — priorities
- Named housing, healthcare, and protecting immigrants as his top priorities for the general election, saying of Republican health policy: "Last year, Republicans voted to double people's premiums on the exchanges, to rip healthcare away from people, to cut Medicare and Medicaid."[3]
- Says Democrats should refuse to support any budget that does not restore expired ACA premium subsidies: "When we win back the House...we're going to run that fight again. And we'll only vote for a budget that restores those healthcare subsidies, so people can afford their lives better."[3]
- Says voters are frustrated with politicians who take corporate PAC money and look like they are doing the work of Wall Street, crypto, and AIPAC, and his campaign says it is fighting to get that kind of money out of politics.[3][4]
Background
- Graduated from the University of Chicago and holds master's degrees in social anthropology from University College London and in city planning from the Pratt Institute.[1]
- Before elected office, directed the nonprofits Pratt Center for Community Development and the Fifth Avenue Committee.[1]
- Served on the New York City Council representing District 39 (Park Slope, Kensington, and surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods) from 2010 to 2021.[1]
- Elected New York City Comptroller in 2021 and served from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2026; did not seek re-election as comptroller in 2025 and instead ran for the New York City mayoral Democratic primary before running for Congress.[1]
Campaign money
Raised $2.5M · spent $2.4M · $55K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗