New York City Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani (D) announced on Wednesday that Lina Khan, the former chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will co-chair his transition team.
Khan will work alongside a group that includes former New York City First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer, former Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog, United Way of New York City CEO Grace Bonilla, and Elana Leopold, who advised Mamdani’s campaign and previously assisted former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
In a statement, Khan noted that Mamdani’s victory is a reflection of New Yorkers wanting a more affordable city for working individuals.
Here are a few interesting points about Khan:
Background Before FTC
Khan graduated from Williams College in 2010 and began exploring antitrust law while serving as a fellow at the Open Markets Program at New America, a think tank. During her four years there, she delved into the concentration of power within the American political economy and how antitrust law evolved, also studying various sectors like agriculture and technology.
In her last year at New America, she was the policy director for Zephyr Teachout’s gubernatorial campaign in New York, which ultimately lost to Andrew Cuomo. Teachout received 33% of the Democratic primary votes compared to Cuomo’s 63%.
Khan earned her law degree from Yale University in 2017 and worked in the office of FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra, who was later appointed to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Additionally, she served as counsel on the House Judiciary Subcommittee focused on antitrust and was an associate professor at Columbia University School of Law.
Her Tenure at the FTC
President Biden nominated Khan as FTC chairman in May 2021, leading to her confirmation the following month with a 69-28 Senate vote, making history as the youngest chair in the agency’s history.
During her term, she aggressively pursued antitrust enforcement, collaborating with the Justice Department to block several significant corporate mergers, including those involving Amazon and Microsoft. Khan sought to challenge unfair business practices that burden consumers, like “junk fees” and imposed arbitration clauses.
Her actions drew praise from some progressives, including Senator Bernie Sanders, and also stirred discontent among Wall Street interests.
In a June interview with the New York Times, Khan articulated her stance on antitrust philosophy, emphasizing a skepticism toward unchecked economic power and the need to combat corporate barriers to freedom.
Life After the FTC
After leaving the FTC with the change in administration, Khan returned to Columbia Law. She recently taught a public economic law course and continues to teach classes focused on antitrust and trade regulation.
Currently, she is co-leading Mamdani’s transition as he gears up to take office as New York City’s youngest mayor.
Khan expressed that the recent election wasn’t just about a new mayor, but instead highlighted the influence of corporate power on local politics. She emphasized the need to build a responsive administration ready to deliver for all New Yorkers from day one.
