Zohran Mamdani taps Lina Khan as co-chair of NYC – Business News
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has picked former Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan to serve as co-chair of his transition workforce — sparking issues amongst New York City tech executives.
Khan — a 36-year-old Democrat who purchased main instances in opposition to Meta and Amazon whereas working the FTC from 2021 to 2025 — shocked some onlookers on Wednesday as she appeared alongside Mamdani at his first post-election press convention.
“I think what we saw last night was New Yorkers not just electing a new mayor, but clearly rejecting a politics where outsize corporate power and money too often end up dictating our politics, and a clear mandate for change,” Khan mentioned on the occasion, drawing cheers from the group.
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani holds a press convention on the Unisphere within the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., November 5, 2025. REUTERS
When requested if she’s contemplating a full-time position within the Mamdani administration, a source close to Khan mentioned she’s centered on her obligations with the transition workforce.
“Lina’s been announced as a co-chair of the mayor-elect’s transition team, where she will advise on economic policy and personnel,” mentioned Doug Farrar, a spokesman for Khan.
Khan’s involvement instantly raised alarms with Big Tech and Wall Street honchos — many of whom have long bristled at her aggressive enforcement techniques, powerful merger critiques and anti-monopoly crackdowns whereas she headed the FTC.
Google, Meta and Amazon all have a sizable presence in New York, and a few of these giant companies might interpret Mamdani’s working with Khan as a “shot across the bow,” in keeping with Eric Soufer, head of the superior tech follow at Tusk Strategies.
Zohran Mamdani has spooked some native business leaders along with his platform. REUTERS
“I think a lot of people are going to have some sleepless nights early on before they have some conversations or at least hear something publicly from Lina Khan and the rest of the transition team about what their plans are,” Soufer mentioned.
Aside from Khan, the transition workforce’s co-chairs embrace former deputy mayor Maria Torres-Springer, nonprofit govt Grace Bonilla and metropolis finances knowledgeable Melanie Hartzog.
During her time on the FTC, Khan waged an unsuccessful battle to stop Microsoft’s acquisition of video sport giant Activision-Blizzard; blocked an tried merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons and enacted a ban on non-compete agreements when employees change jobs, which was later reversed in courtroom.
Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman and IAC Inc. chairman Barry Diller have been amongst these to publicly criticize Khan’s tenure on the FTC.
Lina Khan ran the FTC from 2021 to 2025. Paul Martinka
At the identical time, Khan has obtained fierce assist from so-called “Little Tech” startups who have been largely supportive of her efforts to interrupt up dominant rivals.
Khan’s hard-charging method to antitrust enforcement even drew assist from so-called “Khanservatives” on the appropriate, together with Vice President JD Vance and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
“I guess I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration who I think is doing a pretty good job,” Vance mentioned at an antitrust convention sponsored by Silicon Valley startup incubator Y Combinator final yr.
