Thursday, November 6, 2025. Queens, Lenapehoking (New York City) – On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, New York City Mayor-elect, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, held a news conference in Queens following his historic election victory on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. He outlined plans for transition, introduced members (all women) of his transition team.
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“(Zohran Kwame Mamdani was) Born in Uganda and raised in New York City, he has fought for the working class in and outside the legislature: hunger striking alongside taxi drivers to achieve more than $450 million in transformative debt relief, winning over $100 million in the state budget for increased subway service and a successful fare-free bus pilot, and organizing New Yorkers to defeat a proposed dirty power plant. The cost of living is crushing working people but Zohran believes that government can lower costs and make life easier in our city — he’ll use every tool available to bring down the rent, create world class public transit, and make it easier to raise a family,” says on his new website www.transition2025.com.
Transition Executive Director Elana Leopold. Transition Co-Chairs: Grace Bonilla, Lina Khan, Maria Torres-Springer, Melanie Hartzog.
Elana Leopold
“Transition Executive Director Elana Leopold has served on Mamdani’s campaign as a senior advisor, acting as a liaison to civic, business and cultural leaders across the city. Leopold, a native New Yorker, held several senior roles during the de Blasio administration including senior advisor to IGA and senior aide to the Mayor, as well as serving on the 2013 transition following his successful 2013 campaign.”
Grace Bonilla
“Nonprofit leader and lifelong New Yorker Grace Bonilla currently serves as president and CEO of United Way of New York City, a leading citywide nonprofit helping low-income New Yorkers by coordinating service providers, companies and local government services. Bonilla previously served as Administrator of the New York City Human Resources Administration and as the first Executive Director of New York City’s Taskforce on Racial Equity and Inclusion.”
Lina Khan
“Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan is the nation’s leading antimonopoly champion. As the 57th FTC chair under President Biden, Khan spearheaded the administration’s efforts to reinvigorate antitrust and consumer protection enforcement. Before heading the FTC, Khan served as counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative law, and as legal advisor to FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra. Khan is also an Associate Professor of Law at Columbia Law School.”
Maria Torres-Springer
“Housing and economic development leader Maria Torres-Springer has held numerous leadership roles in city government, most recently serving as First Deputy Mayor in City Hall. Torres-Springer was previously Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and president and CEO of the NYC Economic Development Corporation. She has also served as vice president for U.S. programs at the Ford Foundation and is the incoming President and CEO of the Revson Foundation.”
Melanie Hartzog
“Melanie Hartzog is the President and CEO of the New York Foundling, one of the city’s largest and oldest non-profit organizations that helps children, youth, adults, and families in need through services, support, and advocacy. Hartzog previously served across two mayoral administrations as New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and as Family Services Coordinator for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Deputy Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services. She also led a social services unit in the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and was a Director for the Human Services Council of New York City, Inc.”
Work With Us. Shape the Future of Our City
“We’re building a talented, inclusive, and mission-driven team of public servants dedicated to improving the lives of New Yorkers.
If you’re passionate about public service and interested in contributing to this work, we invite you to share your resume using the portal below.
Submissions will be added to our talent database and reviewed by the Transition Appointments Team as we identify candidates for roles across City agencies and offices.” Apply on: www.transition2025.com/apply.
His new website www.transition2025.com says, “Thank you, New York. Zohran was elected on a mandate for transformational change. His historic victory was powered by tens of thousands of New Yorkers who believe a better city is possible.
The Work Starts Now. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani won with a vision to make New York safe and affordable for all of its residents. Learn how his administration will hit the ground running to deliver on this agenda from day one.”
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