Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller running for Congress in New York's 10th district, spoke at a Queens mosque on Wednesday where he recited verses from the Quran and discussed his positions on U.S. military aid to Israel.
Lander is challenging incumbent Democrat Congressman Dan Goldman in the August Democratic primary. An Emerson College Polling survey conducted May 21 with PIX11 News showed Lander leading Goldman by 34 percentage points, 57% to 23%, among likely Democratic voters in NY-10, with 20% undecided.
The event took place at a mosque where the imam offered prayers that included references to historical Islamic prophecies. According to video of the event posted on social media, Lander began his remarks by stating his view on events in Gaza.
"I believe, as a proud Jewish New Yorker, that Israel's genocide in Gaza is a desecration," Lander said at the Queens mosque. "Is a violation of the understanding that everyone is created in God's image — every one of those Palestinian kids in Gaza, just as divine as my beloved children."
Lander also outlined his position on U.S. foreign policy if elected to Congress.
"And so, yes, in Congress, I will not vote for any more U.S. military aid to Israel, not the bombs that are destroying the hospitals and schools in Gaza, not the occupation in Lebanon, which is now, I believe, unfortunately, on its way potentially to being a genocide as well," he said.
The former comptroller also discussed his hopes for collaboration with progressive members of Congress who have been critical of Israel.
"The kind of partnership I developed with Zohran. I hope to come to have with Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and others in Congress to show we can build a city and a country and a world that everyone can afford and where everyone's humanity is respected," Lander said.
Lander concluded his remarks at the mosque by reciting verses from the Quran in Arabic, stating: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, say he is Allah, who is one, Allah, the eternal refuge, he neither begets nor is born, nor is there to him any equivalent."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive supporters of Lander argue his positions reflect a growing shift within the Democratic Party on U.S. policy toward Israel. His advocacy for cutting military aid to Israel aligns with younger Democratic voters who have called for conditions on assistance over humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
Organizations including progressive political action committees and local activist groups have backed Lander's campaign, praising his willingness to speak directly about issues they say other Democrats avoid.
Some Jewish voters supportive of Lander argue that criticism of Israeli government policies is consistent with Jewish values of justice and human rights. They point to his emphasis on humanitarian concerns as reflective of his identity rather than a departure from it.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics, including supporters of Goldman's campaign and conservative commentators, have characterized Lander's remarks at the mosque as inappropriate for a congressional candidate. The combination of reciting Quranic verses alongside criticism of Israel has drawn particular scrutiny.
"This is a pattern of progressive candidates adopting positions that align with anti-Israel voices in Congress," one Republican National Committee spokesperson said in a statement shared on social media. "Voters deserve to know exactly where candidates stand before they go to Washington."
Supporters of Goldman argue the incumbent has maintained more mainstream Democratic positions while Lander has shifted toward the progressive wing. Goldman's campaign has not issued a direct response to the mosque event as of Thursday evening.
What the Numbers Show
The Emerson College Polling survey from May 21, 2026 provides quantitative context for the race:
Lander leads Goldman by 34 points in NY-10: Lander at 57%, Goldman at 23%, with 20% undecided. The margin represents a significant advantage for the challenger heading into the August primary.
NY-10 includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, areas that have seen increased progressive political activity in recent election cycles.
Lander served as New York City comptroller from 2022 to 2026 before stepping down to run for Congress. Goldman won the NY-10 seat in 2022, defeating Republican former NYPD detective Mikael Finger in the general election after winning a competitive Democratic primary.
The Bottom Line
The Lander campaign's mosque event highlights the evolving positions within the Democratic Party on U.S.-Israel relations and Middle East policy. With Lander holding a substantial polling lead over Goldman eight weeks before the August primary, the race appears to favor the challenger at this stage.
If elected, Lander has committed to opposing additional military aid to Israel, which would place him among the most vocal critics of Israeli policy in the Democratic caucus. His stated interest in working with Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar suggests alignment with the progressive wing on foreign policy issues.
Goldman's campaign has not responded publicly to Lander's remarks at the mosque as of publication time. Whether this event shifts voter preferences in either direction remains to be seen ahead of the August primary election.