Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) was defeated in the Democratic primary on June 23, 2026, by former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, as reported by the Associated Press. Lander's victory was supported by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and reflects a trend of progressive candidates winning in Democratic congressional primaries.
Progressives across various states have been successful in challenging party-backed incumbents, leveraging grassroots support against the Democratic establishment. Goldman faced criticism in his district for his strong support of Israel, despite being a member of the Progressive Caucus.
Lander previously ran for New York mayor but did not succeed. He gained support from the left after endorsing Mamdani in his campaign against former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Lander positioned himself as a liberal Zionist, promising to take a more critical stance on Israel in Congress.
The primary race involved Mamdani and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who backed Goldman. Goldman is the third Democratic House incumbent to lose in a primary this year, following Reps. Al Green (D-Texas) and Julie Johnson (D-Texas). Many older and moderate incumbents may face similar challenges from younger, more progressive candidates in upcoming primaries.