Zohran Mamdani electrified supporters Tuesday night with a promise to dismantle the old guard of New York City politics, vowing a new era of leadership focused on the many, not the few. His victory speech at the Brooklyn Paramount theater resonated with a call to finally leave behind a system perceived as favoring the elite.
Less than a day later, a stark contrast emerged. Mamdani announced his transition team, a group overwhelmingly comprised of individuals deeply connected to the very administrations he had publicly denounced – those of Bill de Blasio, Eric Adams, Michael Bloomberg, and even Joe Biden.
The team’s leadership includes Maria Torres-Springer, a veteran of both the de Blasio and Bloomberg mayoralties, and Lina Khan, the current chair of the Federal Trade Commission under President Biden. Melanie Hartzog, a former New York City budget director who served under de Blasio, and Grace Bonilla, a Bloomberg and de Blasio aide, were also appointed as co-chairs.
Rounding out the key appointments, Elana Leopold, a former senior aide to de Blasio, will serve as the transition team’s executive director. This selection immediately sparked criticism, with some questioning the sincerity of Mamdani’s pledge for change.
Observers pointed to the previous administration of Bill de Blasio as a period of decline for the city, expressing concern that reinstating key players from that era would perpetuate existing problems. The appointment of Lina Khan, known for her aggressive stance against businesses, also drew scrutiny.
During her tenure at the FTC, Khan has been accused of prioritizing individuals from politically aligned non-profit organizations, influencing policy and messaging with a forceful antitrust agenda. The FTC itself acknowledged the contributions of these individuals in official reports.
Mamdani’s mayoral campaign saw him defeat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Throughout his campaign, he consistently railed against corporate influence and the enrichment of elected officials at the expense of ordinary New Yorkers.
His victory was met with enthusiasm from figures like Alex Soros, son of George Soros, a prominent benefactor of left-leaning political campaigns. Alex Soros now leads the Open Society Foundations, a substantial philanthropic organization.
The Open Society Foundations reportedly contributed $37 million over the past decade to groups that actively supported Mamdani’s nomination, including the Working Families Party. This financial backing further fueled questions about the true nature of the “new political order” Mamdani promised.
The swift appointment of established political figures raises doubts about whether Mamdani will truly “turn the page” as he proclaimed, or if his administration will simply represent a reshuffling of the same power structures he vowed to dismantle.
