Zohran Mamdani names all-women transition team, vows ‘capable and compassionate’ city hall

The transition will be led by Elana Leopold as executive director, with co-chairs including Maria Torres-Springer, former first deputy mayor; Lina Khan, former Federal Trade Commission chair; Grace Bonilla, president and CEO of United Way; and Melanie Hartzog, former deputy mayor for health and human services.

“In the coming months, I and my team will build an administration that is equal parts capable and compassionate,” Mamdani told reporters, adding that he plans to get to work “from day one.”

Mamdani, who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, will become New York’s first Muslim mayor, the first of Indian heritage, the first born in Africa, and the youngest in over a century.

His administration faces an early test in navigating tensions with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal funding from New York if Mamdani takes office. “It is highly unlikely that I will be contributing federal funds, other than the minimum required,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling Mamdani a “communist.”

Federal funding accounts for about 6.4% of New York City’s $7.4 billion fiscal 2026 budget, according to the state comptroller.

Despite this, Mamdani struck an optimistic tone in his first television interview after the election. “We owe it to this city to be ready on 1 January,” he said. “We have 57 days to start doing the work of preparing.”