23 hours Ago
The attack, which came a week before the Democratic primary, galvanized renewed attention on his campaign, which had been lagging his two rivals, Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.
The 55-year-old, who has been an advocate for progressive causes, said he wanted to call attention to a lack of due process rather than break the law. “It was to protest by being there, showing up, putting my body there to bear witness,” Lander said. His confrontation with the federal officers was widely shared, drawing both admiration and charges of political opportunism.
A Progressive Voice in a Close Race
Lander has a track record of working on pro-worker, pro-tenant and affordable housing policies during his tenure as a member of the New York City Council. He helped found the progressive caucus and now has stewardship over the city’s purse as comptroller. And his regular audits of the mayor’s office under Mayor Eric Adams have led to an ongoing feud. Adams, who is now running for mayor as an independent candidate, called Lander’s recent arrest a performance.
Yes, as part of a strategic partnership under New York’s new ranked-choice voting system, Lander and Mamdani have cross-endorsed each other. Lander has made his opposition to Cuomo a central theme of his campaign, referring to the investigations into Cuomo’s actions as governor. He described Cuomo as “someone who does not have the guts to stand up as authoritarianism grows, who chooses to continue to ally himself with the charade and the militarism that we’ve seen from the Trump administration.”
A recent polling showed Cuomo ahead with 38% support, followed by Mamdani at 27%. Lander and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams had 7 percent each, with the rest of the field further in the rear. The poll was taken before Lander’s arrest.
Campaign Impact and Reactions
Lander, who was released after almost four hours in detention, confirmed that he was determined to continue using his work to highlight migrant rights and the absence of legal representation in immigration cases. His arrest attracted backing from a number of Democratic candidates, but Cuomo—just across town—never joined in solidarity.
His arrest drew criticism from some who wondered if it had been a strategic move to gain attention in a crowded campaign. And there were comparisons to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who also had been arrested during a protest — but went on to lose his own gubernatorial primary. Others, however, defended Lander’s decisions and pointed to good intentions.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a close ally, gave it strong support, saying Lander demonstrated a case of the value of just being present in the moments that demand moral clarity. Heading into the June 24 primary, Lander’s campaign has managed to come alive again — partly by controversy, but also by conviction.
