New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and then-candidate Zohran Mamdani carry a banner across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, ahead of Election Day. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"Dan is focused on stopping the Trump administration from what they're doing to immigrant families in his district right now. He’s proud of his progressive record in Congress and will deal with Brad and other challengers in the new year," Goldman campaign spokesperson Maddy Rose said.
'FULL-BLOWN BATTLE' BREWING IN DEM PARTY AS MAMDANI-STYLE CANDIDATES RISE IN KEY RACES
Goldman did not endorse Mamdani's mayoral campaign over concerns that he wouldn't do enough to protect Jewish New Yorkers, as he told CBS News New York’s Marcia Kramer.
While Democrats have struggled to land on a cohesive message and identify a clear party leader since losing up and down the ballot in 2024, their commitment to rejecting President Donald Trump's sweeping, second-term agenda has been consistent.
The Democratic Party is seeking to regain congressional control in the upcoming midterm elections in an attempt to thwart Trump's legislative agenda during the last two years of his term.
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander arrives at a rally after being released from ICE detention on June 17, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
"When ICE agents started kidnapping our neighbors, I fought back," Lander said before adding, "While our neighbors are being demonized and attacked, we can put our bodies on the line to protect them."
As the outgoing city comptroller, Lander notably did not secure a coveted role in the Mamdani administration.
Lander was a fixture of Mamdani's mayoral campaign. From riding side-by-side on city bikes to delivering opening remarks at campaign rallies, Lander consistently fired up Mamdani's base during their joint appearances.
But without the ties to a role in City Hall, a lane opened for Lander to launch a congressional bid as Mamdani's success propels his campaign forward.
Brad Lander competes in a Democratic mayoral primary debate in New York City on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, fellow Mamdani-ally New York City councilmember Chi Ossé forfeited his own congressional primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., before it even started.
"Exploring the possibility of this run was important," Ossé said in a statement obtained by Politico. "As committed, I will not be launching this campaign without the support of the DSA, and so the exploration process has concluded."
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Without endorsements from Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Ossé's campaign failed to find its footing after he filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission last month for a congressional campaign.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ny-dem-wouldnt-back-mamdani-mayor-now-mamdani-backing-his-challenger