Brad Lander

Bradford Scott Lander (born July 8, 1969) is an American Democratic politician and urban planner who served as the 45th New York City comptroller from 2022 until 2025. A progressive, Lander was elected to the New York City Council in 2009, serving for 12 years, and later serving as Deputy Leader for Policy. His district was partly based in Brooklyn. Lander was elected city comptroller in 2021 and assumed office on January 1, 2022. Born in suburban St. Louis, Lander has pursued his political career in New York City since the 1990s, where he has become a mainstay in progressive activism. In July 2024, Lander announced he would challenge incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in the 2025 New York City mayoral election. He was The New York Times Opinion panel's and Ezra Klein's top choice in the Democratic primary. He conceded the primary to Zohran Mamdani on June 24, 2025. His decision to cross-endorse and campaign with Mamdani was considered crucial to Mamdani's victory in the primary due to the city's ranked-choice voting system. On December 10, 2025, Lander announced his candidacy for the 2026 primary election in New York's 10th congressional district, challenging incumbent Dan Goldman from the left. He was endorsed by Mamdani, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and the Working Families Party.