Brad Lander’s bid for the mayor of the Big Apple is already facing its first hurdle: the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The current city comptroller and highest-ranking Jewish member of New York City politics has tried to walk the political tightrope since the attacks on Oct. 7 — condemning Hamas while cozying up to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party that has been harshly critical of Israel.
But just days into his campaign, that tactic is proving to be an early vulnerability, leaving him open to attacks those in the party from prominent voices in the Jewish community, experts said.
“Lander’s unqualified support for the [Democratic Socialists of America] and its hateful antisemitic attacks on the Jewish people are not values that we New Yorkers want to see in our Mayor,” said Michael Nussbaum, who is the founding president of the Queens Jewish Community Council.
“As a leader in our NY Jewish community, I find Lander’s announcement coming as Israel and the Jewish people are still struggling to deal with deadly rockets from friends of Hamas and Iran an insult given his support for those who wish Israel to be wiped off the Middle East map.”
Lander, a self-described “progressive Zionist,” recently threw his support behind a candidate for Assembly along with a slate of city DSA members who have been staunch opponents of Israel, supporting sanctions and a boycott.
He was also under fire earlier this year for breaking challah at a Palestinian restaurant with socialist Councilwoman Shahana Hanif.
His stance could also leave him open to attacks from the left, one pundit said.
“He has a Jewish problem,” said Democratic political consultant Ken Frydman.
“The far-left liberal Jew, that’s who he’ll be fine with and is banking on, but there aren’t as many of them as there used to be,” he said.
Scott Stringer, Lander’s predecessor as comptroller who announced his run earlier this year, could cut into a good chunk of that voter base, Frydman said.
But he still thinks Lander has a shot at taking on Adams, who put significant effort into courting pro-Israel New Yorkers since the attacks last year.
Just last week, Adams hosted a summit at Gracie Mansion to address antisemitic hate.
But Phylisa Wisdom, the executive director of New York Jewish Agenda, which was co-founded with Lander, said she and her group “reject the false binary” created over the issue.
“The majority of Jews fall where Lander is,” Wisdom said. “A lot of Jews are liberal.
“Most of us are pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian state. We want this war to end, the hostages to be released and reject that criticizing how this government is handling the war is anti-Israel.”
Lander’s camp also pushed back on the criticism.
“The offensive whisper campaign questioning whether he is a ‘good Jew’ is no different from the Trumpian attack on Kamala Harris’ Jewish husband Doug Emhoff and is a distraction from the key challenges facing New York City,” said a campaign spokesperson.
Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies, said Lander’s issue extends beyond the current political third rail of Israel-Palestine.
“If you are a hardcore Democratic in the city, all you care about right now is saving democracy and electing [Vice President Kamala] Harris,” Coffrey said about Lander’s decision to enter the race so early.
“It makes you look selfish.”