Lina Khan to Co-Chair NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Transition Team

Lina Khan Named Transition Co-Chair Following Mamdani's Mayoral Victory

Following Zohran Mamdani’s success in the New York City mayoral election on Tuesday evening, his campaign team revealed that Lina Khan, the former chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will serve as one of four co-chairs of the transition committee.

Khan's Prior Support for Mamdani

Khan has consistently voiced support for Mamdani, notably through a New York Times opinion piece where she commended his efforts to connect with small business owners. Her appointment to a formal position within the transition team is widely interpreted as a direct signal to both Wall Street and the technology sector.

These industries, particularly their most influential figures, have already expressed criticism towards Mamdani, a Democratic socialist. This criticism stems from his outspoken challenges to the tech elite, including critiques of billionaires and a proposed 2% tax on incomes exceeding $1 million.

A Rejection of Corporate Influence

“The outcome of last night’s election demonstrated that New Yorkers have not only chosen a new mayor, but have also decisively rejected a political landscape dominated by excessive corporate power and financial influence,” Khan stated in a public address on Wednesday.

She further characterized Mamdani’s win as “a definitive mandate for progress, ensuring New Yorkers have the opportunity to prosper, and that all workers and small businesses can flourish – rather than simply survive.”

Opposition to Mamdani's Campaign

Significant financial resources were deployed to oppose Mamdani’s candidacy. Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, alongside investors such as Bill Ackman and Mike Bloomberg, collectively invested millions of dollars in support of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ultimately placed second in the election.

DoorDash also contributed $1 million to a super PAC advocating for Cuomo. Mamdani’s campaign platform, conversely, championed increased regulation of delivery applications and enhanced protections for their independent contractor workforce.

Khan's Stance Against Tech Monopolies

Similar to Mamdani, Khan has faced opposition from powerful entities. Throughout her time in the Biden administration, she actively challenged several prominent tech mergers, earning her a reputation as a vocal critic of tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google.

Even when these attempts to block mergers were unsuccessful, many within Silicon Valley attributed the slowdown in acquisition activity to Khan’s influence.

Criticism from Within the Tech Community

Even individuals who previously supported the Biden-Harris campaign, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and investor Vinod Khosla, publicly voiced their disapproval of Khan. Khosla, in an interview with TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos, described her as “not a rational human being.”

Role on the Transition Team

Mamdani’s transition website identifies Khan, a professor at Columbia Law School, as “the nation’s leading antimonopoly champion.”

Other Transition Co-Chairs

Alongside Khan, the transition team will also be guided by three additional co-chairs: Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City; Maria Torres-Springer, former First Deputy Mayor of New York City; and Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of The New York Foundling.

The entire group will be overseen by Elana Leopold, a key advisor to Mamdani’s campaign and a veteran of the Bill de Blasio mayoral administration, having held several senior positions.

Focus of Khan's Involvement

“Lina’s primary focus will be on preparing to provide assistance to the transition team regarding economic policy and personnel matters,” stated Douglas Farrar, a spokesperson for Khan, in a communication to TechCrunch.

Updated, 11/5/25, 2:20 PM ET with comment from Douglas Farrar.