Shirkers of the world, unite!
A strong collective of Zohran Mamdani’s core brain trust are 30-somethings or even younger Gen Zers with little-to-no experience in government — but long histories of radical left-wing politics, a review by The Post found.
Mamdani’s frontrunner status in the Big Apple mayoral race puts these untested youths – who variously have ties to billionaire George Soros, grew up in swanky homes and went to posh private schools – a stone’s throw from the levers of power.
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“We’re getting ready for another administration of shocking naïveté,” one Democratic operative said.
The 33-year-old socialist Queens lawmaker harnessed the youth vote to pull off an astounding win in the Democratic primary, all while batting off attacks from opponents that he was too wet behind the ears to effectively govern the nation’s largest city.
But Mamdani has done little after clinching the Dem nomination in June to build up strong stable of seasoned hands or those bearing the calluses of the working class voters that he champions.
Out of roughly 20 operatives in Mamdani’s inner circle, eight are under 36 years old.
Three of those politicos have ties to Soros, the progressive activist and investor – and about half a dozen grew up in million-dollar pads, according to Zillow estimates, with access to celebrities and private schools.
The median salary in the Big Apple is about $58,000 a year – but many of Mamdani’s top confidantes rake in an average of $10,000 to $12,000 a month, a review of campaign finance records found.
“His City Hall inner circle would also be in their 20s and 30s,” said Ken Frydman, a former press secretary for Rudy Giuliani’s City Hall and a longtime Democratic operative.
“Notwithstanding (former Mayor Bill) de Blasio retreads, the Mamdani administration will be even less experienced at government than Mayor Mamdani himself. For a city government the size of New York, that’s an operational nightmare. Good luck with the budget and unions.”
One of Mamdani’s closest operatives – Morris Katz – is apparently keenly aware that his youth could be a detriment to his job. He lied to the New York Times and a slew of other outlets about being 28, when he’s actually 26 years old.
Insiders have also told The Post about a growing rift between Mamdani’s inner circle and operatives allied with one-time Democratic mayoral contender and City Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive who cross-endorsed the upstart socialist during the primary.
Tension has been rising between the two camps, with some feeling aggrieved that Lander’s more-experienced political hands are being shut out since joining Mamdani’s team, sources said.
But Lander’s former campaign director, Alison Hirsh, who now serves as his chief strategy officer in the comptroller’s office, shot down the notion of any bad blood.
“Brad and Zohran talk all the time,” she said. “They are as united as ever in working together to make sure Zohran is the next mayor of New York City. Brad is proud to support that campaign himself and through past members of his team.”
Mamdani, for his part, has answered questions about his youth and inexperience by pushing the notion that it means he doesn’t carry unseemly personal and political baggage. He again made that point last week, shortly after Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime friend and adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin was hit with four bribery indictments.
“Zohran is proud to be surrounded by a team from a range of backgrounds,” said campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec. “What unites this team is not where they come from, but a shared commitment to fighting for working New Yorkers and delivering a more affordable city for everyone.”
Elliana (Elle) Bisgaard-Church
Mamdani’s most trusted chief advisor is arguably Elliana (Elle) Bisgaard-Church, a 34-year-old from California with an Ivy League degree from Columbia University.
The DSA darling’s only experience with elected officials has been with Mamdani on his assembly team as his chief of staff.
Despite the under five years of experience working in New York politics, other members of Mamdani’s camp have credited her with conjuring up the policies central to his campaign – and she makes about $11,000 a month doing it.
Morris Katz
Morris Katz, 26, is a Tribeca-born-and-raised ad-maker for Mamdani who was one of the first hires on the mayoral campaign.
“I’m drawn to people who treat it (politics) as more of an art form than a sport,” the self-proclaimed populist said on the podcast Pro Politics.
Katz, the son of screenwriter David Bar Katz, also said on the podcast that he often rubbed shoulders with the likes of actors Sam Rockwell and Philip Seymour Hoffman when growing up in his parents $5 million Manhattan apartment.
Julian Gerson
Julian Gerson, 29, a speechwriter often seen at Mamdani’s public appearances, is another key operative with ties to New York’s elite.
The young politico attended the ritzy Dalton School and grew up in a multimillion dollar house in Woodstock. He also boasts actual political experience, having worked previously for Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan) and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Donald Borenstein
One of the highest-paid members on Mamdani’s team is Donald Borenstein.
The 34-year-old is the vision and brains behind many of Mamdani’s viral videos and he has been paid over $60,000 since late 2024 by the campaign for his work. Borenstein is also a Fordham grad who grew up in $1.8 million home in the DC suburbs.
Andrew Epstein
Yale-educated Andrew Epstein, 38, is one of the oldest members of Mamdani’s original campaign crew.
A former campaign worker and chief of staff to lefty Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, Epstein joined Mamdani’s once-longshot mayoral bid as communications director in 2024 and transitioned to creative director after the primary.
Zara Rahimc
Zara Rahim, 33, a former Barack Obama staffer who also worked for Hillary Clinton acts as a senior adviser to Mamdani.
The south Florida native also worked with brands such as Uber and Vogue, as well as serving as an adviser to Mariah Carey on the singer’s acclaimed 2020 memoir and book tour, according to BK Mag.
“I’ve worked with some of the most prolific people and brands, and I’ve been in incredible rooms and I belonged in those rooms, period,” she told Coveteur magazine in 2022.
Rahim isn’t the only one with close ties to Soros in Mamdani’s camp.
Diplomat and Obama-era Democrat Patrick Gaspard considers the political power player a “friend,” according to social media, and served as president of Soros’ Open Society Foundation between 2017 and 2020.
Dora Pekec
Dora Pekec, 25, is the youngest person in Mamdani’s inner circle.
She graduated from Duke University and worked on Lander’s failed run for mayor as communications director. Before that, she worked on the House Majority PAC.
Maya Handa
Maya Handa, 30, recently took over for Bisgaard-Church as campaign manager.
Handa ran the mayoral primary campaign of state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who couldn’t break out from the crowded Democratic field. She also has ties to the Working Families Party and worked on Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s failed campaign for president starting in 2019, according to her LinkedIn.
