Elle Bisgaard-Church, who will now be known as "the powerful woman behind Mamdani," New York's incoming mayor, is not just another political adviser.
Bisgaard-Church, just 34, is a radical activist with deep ties to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) – a movement known for its consistently anti-Israel stance, including support for boycotts of Israel and calls to halt US security assistance to Jerusalem.
A graduate of Swarthmore College and Columbia University, Bisgaard-Church was previously active in anti-war movements and expressed support for what she termed "nonviolent anti-Israel activism," echoing the rhetoric of her political ally Mamdani.
Their collaboration began during Mamdani's tenure in the New York State Assembly, where Bisgaard-Church served as his chief of staff. She was a key figure in persuading the DSA to back his mayoral candidacy and endorse his radical platform, which includes creating a "Department of Community Safety" to replace certain New York Police Department functions with social workers, a move that drew sharp criticism from city security officials.
Sources within the DSA said Bisgaard-Church helped draft the organization's guidelines for working with elected officials and promoted the policy of supporting "ideologically aligned candidates," including those willing to challenge US policy toward Israel. Mamdani, who founded a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter during his college years, found in Bisgaard-Church a loyal partner in advancing that agenda. She is now set to become one of the most influential figures in his administration.
Despite her low public profile, as she rarely appears on social media and avoids interviews, Bisgaard-Church managed Mamdani's campaign and is widely credited for his upset victory over Andrew Cuomo. Former city officials have warned that "she may stay out of the spotlight, but she'll be the one shaping policy behind the scenes, including New York's stance on Israel."
As Mamdani takes office as New York's first socialist mayor, Bisgaard-Church's appointment underscores the growing power of the radical progressive wing, and its alignment with an increasingly anti-Israel agenda, within the city's political establishment.
