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Ocasio-Cortez endorses Brad Lander for Congress

AOC Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speak at a “fight oligarchy” rally at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Ariz., March 20, 2025. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Creative Commons.

Brad Lander, former New York City comptroller and Democratic nominee for a congressional seat in New York considered safe for Democrats, said that it is an “honor” to receive an endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Lander, who like AOC has accused the Jewish state of “genocide,” called the congresswoman one of the Democratic Party’s “most transformational and effective leaders.”

The Jewish congressional hopeful has supported New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after his own unsuccessful mayoral bid. Jewish leaders have said that Mamdani’s anti-Israel statements put Jews at risk.

Lander recently stated that he was in the “West Bank,” a term some use to describe Judea and Samaria, to “help Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the face of state-sanctioned settler terrorism.”

“When Agudath Israel humanizes these issues, it makes it a lot easier for these representatives to go out and advocate,” New York State Assembly member Sam Berger told JNS.
“You’re the man I want by my side, Bibi,” the U.S. president told the Israeli premier.
Neil Blair established High Line Publishing Studio to help Jewish and Israeli literary figures who are shunned by mainstream publishing houses.
“The State of Israel, for us as Orthodox Jews, is the beginning of the flowering of the redemption of our people,” Rabbi Elie Buechler told JNS. “If that’s not their perspective, that’s OK too.”