New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has chosen Lina Maliha Khan, a prominent Pakistani-American legal scholar and former chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to co-chair his transition team. The announcement was made on Thursday as Mamdani prepares to take office on January 1, 2026, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of the city.
Khan, aged 36, will serve alongside three seasoned New York City Hall veterans, helping shape the incoming administration for America’s largest city — one that manages a staggering $116 billion budget and faces constant global attention.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Khan said, “New Yorkers have made it clear they want a city that working families can truly afford. I’m honored to help Zohran build a team that brings real change and a new vision for New York.”
During her tenure at the FTC, Khan became a leading figure in the Biden administration’s antitrust and consumer protection efforts, tackling unfair business practices such as “junk fees” and mandatory arbitration clauses. She took bold steps against major corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and Ticketmaster, earning respect across party lines for her commitment to curbing corporate monopolies.
Born in London to Pakistani parents, Lina Khan moved to the United States in 2000. She is married to Dr. Shah Rukh Ali, a cardiologist at Columbia University.
Her appointment as co-chair of Mamdani’s transition team underscores her growing influence in American politics and her continued dedication to fair governance and public accountability.
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