By: Justin Winograd

As New York City barrels toward one of the most contentious mayoral elections in its history, the spotlight has shifted from the socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani himself to the coterie of youthful advisers who make up his core brain trust. A review conducted by The New York Post revealed that many of Mamdani’s most influential aides are barely out of their 20s or early 30s, possess little-to-no experience in governing, and carry long resumes of radical left-wing activism.

The findings, political observers say, highlight a looming experiment in City Hall governance: entrusting the reins of the nation’s largest city to a candidate surrounded by advisers with ideology-heavy résumés but scant experience navigating the labyrinth of municipal administration.

According to a report that appeared on Tuesday in The New York Post, of the roughly 20 individuals who comprise Mamdani’s closest circle, at least eight are under 36 years old. Three of them have documented ties to billionaire financier and progressive patron George Soros, while others grew up in the sort of upper-middle-class or elite households that stand in stark contrast to the working-class voters Mamdani often claims to champion.

A Democratic operative, speaking to The New York Post, described the outlook bluntly: “We’re getting ready for another administration of shocking naïveté.”

The risk, critics contend, is that the Mamdani administration could prove to be long on ideology but dangerously short on administrative competence — a prospect that could exacerbate existing challenges around the city’s budget, housing, and public safety.

The New York Post report found that many of Mamdani’s advisers are not only unseasoned but are also compensated far above the average New Yorker. While the median salary in the city hovers around $58,000 per year, Mamdani’s top advisers are raking in between $10,000 and $12,000 each month, according to campaign finance records.

Ken Frydman, a veteran Democratic operative and former press secretary to Rudy Giuliani, told The New York Post that the composition of Mamdani’s inner circle is deeply troubling.

“Notwithstanding the 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.”

Elliana (Elle) Bisgaard-Church, 34, is widely viewed as Mamdani’s most trusted adviser. Armed with an Ivy League degree from Columbia University and the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America, she has less than five years of experience in New York politics, all of it working directly for Mamdani. Yet, as The New York Post discovered, she is credited with shaping many of his central policy positions and collects roughly $11,000 per month for her efforts.

Morris Katz, 26, is another close confidant, responsible for crafting the campaign’s advertising. Katz, the son of screenwriter David Bar Katz, grew up in a $5 million Tribeca apartment, rubbing shoulders with actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Rockwell. According to The New York Post, Katz initially lied to several outlets, including The New York Times, about his age — claiming to be 28 when he was in fact 26.

Julian Gerson, 29, Mamdani’s speechwriter, also hails from privilege. He attended the exclusive Dalton School and was raised in a multimillion-dollar home in Woodstock. Unlike some of his peers, he has logged time in government, working for Congressman Jerry Nadler and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Donald Borenstein, 34, manages much of Mamdani’s digital media strategy, producing the viral videos that have propelled the candidate’s message across social platforms. A Fordham graduate from a wealthy Washington, D.C. suburb, Borenstein has already been paid over $60,000 by the campaign since late 2024, according to The New York Post’s review of records.

Andrew Epstein, 38, one of the older operatives in Mamdani’s camp, once served as chief of staff to progressive Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher. His Yale pedigree and years in leftist politics provide a veneer of experience, but even Epstein’s background pales in comparison to the decades-long careers of advisers who have historically guided mayors of New York City.

Zara Rahim, 33, a former Obama and Clinton staffer, has also found a place in Mamdani’s upper echelon. Rahim worked for major corporations like Uber and Vogue and even advised singer Mariah Carey. She is considered one of the team’s highest-profile operatives, though, as The New York Post report pointed out, her connections to George Soros are also well documented through her work with Patrick Gaspard, a close Soros ally and former president of the Open Society Foundation.

At just 25 years old, Dora Pekec serves as Mamdani’s campaign spokeswoman and communications director. With a background working for Comptroller Brad Lander’s failed mayoral campaign and the House Majority PAC, Pekec is the youngest but also one of the most influential voices in shaping Mamdani’s message.

Maya Handa, 30, recently assumed the role of campaign manager after previously working for State Senator Zellnor Myrie and on Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign.

Cea Weaver, 36, perhaps the most ideologically strident of Mamdani’s advisers, is a self-described communist who has publicly called for the abolition of private property. “Seize private property!” she tweeted in 2018. Weaver, a Democratic Socialists of America member, now advises Mamdani on housing policy — a portfolio with massive implications for a city in the throes of an affordability crisis.

According to The New York Post report, tensions are already brewing between Mamdani’s original circle of young advisers and operatives aligned with City Comptroller Brad Lander, who endorsed Mamdani during the primary. Sources said some of Lander’s more seasoned aides feel sidelined, despite their attempts to integrate into the campaign’s operations.

Alison Hirsh, Lander’s chief strategy officer, rejected suggestions of discord, telling The New York Post that the two camps remain united. “Brad and Zohran talk all the time. They are as united as ever in working together to make sure Zohran is the next mayor of New York City.”

Yet whispers of discontent hint at deeper fissures, suggesting that even among progressives, Mamdani’s reliance on his inexperienced cohort could cause friction.

For his part, Mamdani has attempted to flip the narrative, insisting that youth and inexperience are strengths rather than weaknesses. After the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams’ adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mamdani argued that his team’s lack of “political baggage” is precisely what makes them trustworthy.

Campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec echoed that sentiment in a statement to The New York Post: “Zohran is proud to be surrounded by a team from a range of backgrounds. 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.”

The implications of Mamdani’s ascent extend far beyond the resumes of his advisers. As The New York Post report emphasized, entrusting City Hall to a cadre of largely untested, ideologically driven operatives could spell trouble for a city that requires deft governance to balance its massive budget, manage powerful unions, and ensure public safety.

Critics fear that Mamdani’s inner circle lacks the practical skills necessary to steer New York through crises ranging from housing to crime to the economy. The fear is not only that policies may skew radical, but also that governance itself may become erratic and chaotic under such leadership.

Supporters counter that youth brings fresh ideas and energy. They argue that Mamdani’s advisers reflect a generational shift in New York politics — one that prioritizes affordability, equity, and progressive ideals over entrenched political patronage.

As the November election approaches, the composition of Zohran Mamdani’s team has become as much a subject of scrutiny as the candidate himself. The New York Post’s revelations about the radical pedigree, elite backgrounds, and limited experience of his advisers raise critical questions about what kind of administration Mamdani would actually run.

Would City Hall under his stewardship be a laboratory of youthful experimentation and ideological zeal, or would it devolve into what critics warn could be “an operational nightmare”?

The answer, New Yorkers may soon discover, could shape the trajectory of the city for decades to come.