By Sam Barron | Thursday, 18 June 2026 10:00 PM EDT
AIPAC, the pro-Israel advocacy group, has become a focal point in a contentious New York City Democratic primary race, despite having no direct spending on the campaign. Former city Comptroller Brad Lander, running against Rep. Dan Goldman, D-NY, has deployed multiple advertisements attempting to link Goldman to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
In fundraising emails, Lander stated: “We can’t let AIPAC and other pro-Netanyahu groups make an example out of me.” He further declared: “Now when pro-Netanyahu groups are trying to control who gets elected to Congress, I’m asking you to join our movement to stop them.”
Both candidates identify as Jewish, but Lander has criticized Goldman for supporting U.S. military aid to Israel. Goldman has run advertisements criticizing President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and claims he has returned campaign contributions from AIPAC.
The candidate stated that while AIPAC’s endorsement of him may be detrimental to his campaign, Lander’s anti-AIPAC rhetoric constitutes a “dog whistle.” He added: “It’s just continuing a pattern of lying to and deceiving voters with buzzwords and litmus tests that are not factual.” Goldman expressed concerns that Jews like Lander, who use Israel and AIPAC as a wedge issue in the race, could win this battle but cause serious harm to the Jewish community.
Lander described Goldman’s remarks as “cynical.” He asserted: “I find that language offensive. Like, I don’t want the support of antisemites. I’m a proud Jew, I wear it on my sleeve.” Lander further stated: “What AIPAC is doing is a shanda [a term meaning disgrace], is bad for American democracy, is of course bad for Palestinians who are created b’tzelem Elohim, in God’s image, is bad for Israel, has shredded U.S. credibility in the world.”
Lander added that most people in his district, including the majority of Jews there, share his views. While Lander acknowledged no evidence of AIPAC involvement in the race, he noted that supporters of the group have donated to his opponent.
Lander characterized AIPAC as “corroding our democracy and making Jews less safe,” while Goldman described the organization as having “real problems” and being “harmful in many ways.” Goldman emphasized: “But they are an organization that I coordinate — or that I discuss things with — as is J Street, as are many, many other people, and I will always be independently focused on this issue.”
A Jewish charity leader described the anti-AIPAC campaigning as “obscene.” David Greenfield, a former New York City Council member and head of the Met Council, stated: “When we look back, this will have been the high point of anti-AIPAC fervor. I think some of it is irrational and unfair.” He added: “Crossing from anti-Israel to discriminating against Jewish constituents, I think that’s a very dangerous place to be.”
