Elle Bisgaard-Church
Elle Bisgaard-Church | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Staff to the Mayor of New York City | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2026 | |
| Mayor | Zohran Mamdani |
| Preceded by | Camille Joseph Varlack |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 28, 1991 California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America |
| Education | Swarthmore College (BA) Columbia University (MPA) London School of Economics (MPA) |
Elliana Bisgaard-Church (born June 28, 1991) is an American political adviser who has served as chief of staff to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani since 2026. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Bisgaard-Church was also the campaign manager for Mamdani's 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary campaign.
Early life and education
Bisgaard-Church was born June 28, 1991 in California and grew up as the only child of a single mother.[1][2][3] During her childhood, she regularly volunteered at a homeless shelter.[2] She was raised in Davis, California and graduated from Davis High School.[4]
She attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where she produced an anti-war radio show on WSRN-FM.[1][2] After graduating, she worked for charities and held non-profit jobs in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., focusing on adult literacy and decarceration.[1][2] She moved to New York City in 2016 for a public affairs fellowship with Coro.[1][2]
Bisgaard-Church completed a dual M.P.A. from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and the London School of Economics.[1][2] She chose to study taxation, stating, "if I'm interested in critiquing and reforming our system of taxation, I better go study formally what a tax is."[2]
Career
New York State Assembly chief of staff
Bisgaard-Church was new to politics and had little policy experience when she was hired by Zohran Mamdani just after graduate school.[1][3] She was unknown to Mamdani when she applied in the fall of 2020 for the chief of staff role.[2] Her hiring process involved four interview rounds, including with the New York City Democratic Socialists of America and the Muslim Democratic Club of New York.[2]
Bisgaard-Church served as Mamdani's chief of staff in the New York State Assembly from December 2020 to December 2024.[1][5][6] During her time in Albany, she was reportedly "not on the scene" and avoided "schmoozing."[2] She is said to have "quickly proved to be a skilled political operator with a knack for coalition building."[1] Her tenure has been described as part of an "evolution from a confrontational activist approach to a deft inside/outside strategy."[2] State senator Jabari Brisport called her an "incredible workhorse."[2]
She was one of the "leading voices" in the successful push for higher taxes on wealthy residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] In 2021, she played a key role in the campaign for taxi driver debt relief, organizing a letter to the mayor and coordinating elected officials who were arrested during protests.[1][2] She also helped start a free bus pilot scheme in 2023, proposing the idea for Mamdani to use a dinner with Mayor Eric Adams to finalize the pilot's approval.[1][2] The pilot was later not renewed. Politico New York reported this was due to Mamdani's planned protest vote against the April 2024 state budget, a claim Mamdani denied. Bisgaard-Church noted that advocacy for the program continued.[2]
2025 Mayoral campaign
Bisgaard-Church served as the campaign manager for Zohran Mamdani's 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary campaign, the first political campaign she had ever managed.[2][7][3] The campaign has been described as the "best-run mayoral campaign in recent history" and "one of the most improbable, closely-watched and successful campaigns in recent political history."[1][2]
Bisgaard-Church is credited with crafting the campaign's platform.[1] She stated the strategy was grounded on "consistency, clarity, authenticity" and focused on affordability, with tentpoles of a rent freeze, free buses, and universal childcare.[1][2] She also developed the "Department of Community Safety," a central campaign proposal, after researching by interviewing mental health experts, public safety bureaucrats, and former New York City Police Department chief Rodney K. Harrison.[2]
Under her management, Mamdani won the Democratic primary with a 13-point lead over Andrew Cuomo.[1]
Bisgaard-Church is described as Mamdani's "right hand" and "closest adviser."[1][2] Mamdani singled her out for praise during his victory speech, stating, "I would not have won this race without her steering our campaign."[1][2] Patrick Gaspard, an informal adviser, called her the campaign's "boiler room" and "easily the most influential voice, partner, strategist in the camp."[1] NYC-DSA Co-Chair Gustavo Gordillo stated, "With Zohran, she is the brains of the campaign."[1]
Mayoral transition
Following the primary, Bisgaard-Church's title changed to chief adviser.[2][5][3] She is responsible for "laying the groundwork for a mayoral administration," overseeing a "hiring spree," and leading the transition effort.[5][7][3] Her role includes "vetting potential deputy mayors, agency heads, timelines and policies."[2] Her planning also focuses on "co-governance" and includes a standing weekly meeting with leaders of the NYC-DSA.[2] On November 10, Mamdani announced she would serve as chief of staff in his mayoral administration.[8]
Political positions
Bisgaard-Church is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).[7][3] Prior to working for Mamdani, she was a "paper member," meaning she was not deeply involved.[2] She later took part in creating the DSA's legislative analysis team and wrote a guiding document in 2021 that defined how the DSA would interact with its elected officials.[2] She also played a key role in convincing the DSA to endorse Mamdani for mayor.[2][7]
Sources describe her as a "diehard believer" on the left with a "lifelong preoccupation with wealth inequality, the carceral system and the injustices of war."[2] Bisgaard-Church has stated she feels "deeply ashamed" of homelessness, calling it a "political choice" and a "moral failure," and said she found a "shared sense of rage" about it within the NYC-DSA.[2]
Personal life
Bisgaard-Church's full name is Elliana Bisgaard-Church.[6] She had a wedding in July 2025.[2] She maintains a low public profile, rarely gives interviews, and does not have a traceable presence on X.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Harter, Fred (November 9, 2025). "Profile: Elle Bisgaard-Church, New York's newest kingmaker". The Observer. Archived from the original on November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Pretsky, Holly (October 14, 2025). "How Elle Bisgaard-Church became Zohran Mamdani's most trusted adviser". City & State NY. Archived from the original on November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Fandos, Nicholas; Fitzsimmons, Emma G.; Boyce, Lily (August 12, 2025). "Zohran Mamdani's Inner Circle". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ "2010-11 Women's Cross Country: Elliana Bisgaard-Church". Swarthmore Athletics. 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c Dovere, Edward-Isaac (July 25, 2025). "Mamdani names a new campaign manager as part of staff expansion". CNN. Archived from the original on November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ a b "Biography". LegiStorm. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Fanelli, James (November 8, 2025). "Meet the Advisers Who Will Shape Mamdani's Administration". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ Coltin, Jeff (November 10, 2025). "Mamdani picks his top 2 City Hall deputies". POLITICO. Retrieved November 11, 2025.