NYC Mayor Adams touts Dan Goldman’s win in NY-10 as momentum for ‘moderate’ Dems despite not endorsing him

Despite refraining from offering any congressional endorsements this year, Mayor Adams on Monday held up House candidate Dan Goldman’s win in last week’s NY-10 primary as a sign that a “moderate” style of Democratic politics is prevailing among voters.

Adams, who endorsed several centrist state Senate hopefuls who lost to progressives in last Tuesday’s primaries, brought up Goldman unprompted when asked for a reaction to the left-wing victories.

“I don’t believe the congressional winner in the Park Slope area was a DSA candidate,” Adams told reporters at City Hall, referring to Goldman and using an acronym for the Democratic Socialists of America. “I find him to be more moderate than anything. So if you’re looking at the glass as being half empty, look at the fact that I see at it as being half full.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) and Democratic congressional candidate for NY-10, Dan Goldman (right) (Shawn Inglima/)

While Goldman does not identify as a democratic socialist, he spent his time on the campaign trail in the 10th Congressional District pitching himself to voters as a progressive on a range of issues, from abortion rights and health care to climate action and immigration.

Later Monday, Goldman campaign spokesman Simone Kanter disputed Adams’ “moderate” label.

“Dan ran a campaign based on his progressive vision for the 10th District, including reforming the criminal justice system and increasing resources for students in the public education system,” Kanter said. “He did not seek the endorsement of Mayor Adams, but he looks forward to working with the mayor and elected officials across the city to deliver results that will improve the lives of all New Yorkers.”

Dan Goldman stands with members of his family and supporters during an address on the evening of the Democratic primary election Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. (Craig Ruttle/)

Turning to the state Senate candidates he supported in last Tuesday’s elections, Adams insisted that his endorsement scorecard wasn’t all that bad and that he has plenty of allies in the state Legislature.

“There’s more support up in Albany than people think. I get real communications from my colleagues up there, stating that, ‘Eric, we are in line with what you are saying,’” he said. “So I’m not worried about what’s going to happen in Albany.”

Still, three candidates endorsed by Adams were defeated last week by progressives who have staunchly opposed the mayor’s push for the state Legislature to enact stricter bail laws.

Some political observers have said Adams’ spotty endorsement record could end up hampering his efforts to get Albany lawmakers to back his policies on public safety and other issues during next year’s legislative session.

But Adams said he’s not losing any sleep over such analyses.

“We’ll be alright,” he said. “This is Albany. Albany is Albany.”