Comptroller Brad Lander expressed concerns about the potential impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies on New York City weeks after the election. In a report, Lander outlined various threats posed by Trump, including cuts to public school funding and tariff-driven inflation. He emphasized that the city might not be able to fully compensate for these potential cuts.
While Lander did not offer concrete policy solutions to counteract Trump’s agenda, he urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to approve congestion pricing before Trump’s inauguration. He also emphasized the need to secure funding for immigrant legal services in anticipation of mass deportations. Lander’s focus on progressive issues aligned with his bid for the 2025 mayoral race, appealing to the city’s progressive voters.
Following Trump’s victory, New York Democrats found themselves divided on how to respond to his potential policies. While some urged the party to take a firm liberal stance against Trump, others believed that emphasizing “woke” issues could alienate voters. Democratic sources pointed out that successful congressional Democrats like Tom Suozzi took more moderate positions to appeal to a broader base of constituents.
Observers noted that Lander’s emphasis on abortion and transgender rights could be off-putting to middle-class voters who prioritize economic and safety concerns. Some suggested that focusing on progressive issues could be detrimental to Lander’s electoral prospects in certain parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, where voters are more concerned about crime and the economy. Lander’s criticism of Trump’s immigration policies was also met with skepticism by some Democratic operatives who saw it as out of touch with public sentiment.
Political analysts speculated that Lander’s warnings about Trump’s policies and his emphasis on progressive issues were geared towards positioning himself as the progressive alternative in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary. By highlighting threats to abortion access and transgender rights, Lander aimed to appeal to the city’s progressive voters while distinguishing himself from other potential candidates. However, concerns were raised that Lander’s strategy might not resonate with working-class voters who prioritize issues like crime and the economy.
In the lead-up to the mayoral race, Lander’s preoccupation with criticizing Trump and championing progressive causes could backfire among voters who prioritize more traditional concerns like crime and the economy. Some Democratic operatives warned that Lander risked losing working-class voters by focusing too much on progressive issues. Despite his efforts to position himself as a progressive hope for the Democratic Party, Lander’s approach was met with skepticism and criticism from those who saw a disconnect between his priorities and the concerns of the broader electorate.
