Schumer Faces Snub from Democratic Candidates
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has experienced a notable rebuff from two candidates vying for the House seat in his own district.
During a tense debate on NY1, Rep. Dan Goldman and his competitor Brad Lander were asked if they would endorse Schumer, 75, should he decide to run for re-election in 2028.
Lander did not hold back, stating, “I think it’s time for new leadership in the Democratic Party, and that’s why I’m running against Congressman Goldman,” effectively dismissing Schumer’s potential candidacy.
Goldman took a more cautious approach, saying, “I haven’t thought about it. I don’t know if he’s going to run or not. We’ll deal with it when the time is right,” as he spoke with NY1’s Errol Lewis and Courtney Gross.
Both candidates expressed their support for keeping Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as the House Democratic leader, with Goldman adding, “[Jeffries] supported me.”
House District 10 encompasses neighborhoods in downtown Manhattan, like the Lower East Side and Chinatown, as well as Brooklyn’s waterfront areas.
Lander, a former city auditor and City Council member backed by Mayor Zoran Mamdani, repeatedly labeled Goldman as a “corporate Democrat.” He criticized Goldman’s predecessor, Levi Strauss, for not supporting Mamdani’s mayoral run and for using personal funds towards his campaign despite the Democratic Socialists’ win in last year’s primary.
Goldman, having previously been Trump’s lead attorney during the first House impeachment, described Lander as a “career politician” who “cannot be trusted.”
Both candidates indicated they would pursue impeachment against Trump again if Democrats regained control of the House.
In what was a heated debate, they also bickered over Israel and the Middle East issues. Goldman noted he had participated in the Israel Day parade, while Lander accused the Israeli government of “genocide” in Gaza—a claim he later softened by stating he would vote against all U.S. military aid to Israel.
Additionally, they agreed on the need to abolish ICE, citing its controversial detention policies, and pushed for increased federal funding for public housing and higher taxes on wealthier citizens.
In a lighter moment during rapid-fire questioning, Goldman mentioned his plans to attend the Knicks’ championship playoff game. Lander, however, said he would join a Knicks watch party, citing high ticket prices at Madison Square Garden.
A recent poll from Pix 11/Emerson College indicated Lander leading Goldman by a significant margin—34 points, showing 57% to Goldman’s 34%, though Goldman’s team has questioned the validity of those results.
