Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced senior communications hires for City Hall, assembling a team with deep experience in government, organizing and national campaigns — and a shared commitment to building a city that works for working people.
Anna Bahr joins the Mamdani administration as Communications Director, overseeing the administration’s communications strategy, press office, digital and new media operations, and agency communications.
Bahr most recently served as communications director for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and previously worked as a national spokesperson on his 2020 presidential campaign. She has worked on campaigns across the country and also brings city government experience, having served as a spokesperson and speechwriter under former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“Mayor Mamdani is modeling a different kind of government — not a billionaire-funded, consultant-driven administration, but one that champions the needs of working people,” said Bahr. “It’s what New Yorkers deserve and I’m proud to be part of his team.”
“For this administration, communication is more than a political tactic, it’s fundamental to our belief that every single New Yorker deserves a place in our politics — and with these experienced, principled hires, we will deliver a new era of governance for New York City,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Joe Calvello will serve as Press Secretary, leading the press office, serving as the mayor’s chief spokesperson and overseeing City Hall deputy press secretaries and agency press shops.
Calvello previously served as a senior advisor to U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner and chief strategy officer for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson during the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He has worked in communications for Sens. Bernie Sanders and John Fetterman, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and numerous campaigns.
Monica Klein will serve as Senior Advisor for Communications focusing on long-term planning, messaging, and earned media.
Klein is a founding partner at Seneca Strategies and most recently served as Mamdani’s transition communications director. Klein has led communications for successful city and statewide campaigns, including the expansion of universal 3-K and pre-K and new progressive state taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers. She previously served as a deputy press secretary under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Dora Pekec, the spokesperson for Mamdani’s historic campaign, will continue as Senior Spokesperson, leading rapid response and serving as the principal spokesperson for Room 9.
Pekec previously served as communications director for Brad Lander’s mayoral campaign and has national experience with the House Democrats’ campaign arm, Governor J.B. Pritzker’s re-election campaign, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s press office, and other campaigns.
Lekha Sunder will serve as Deputy Communications Director, focusing on messaging and coordinating communications strategy across city government.
Sunder joined Mamdani’s primary campaign in February and played a central role expanding the campaign’s reach across traditional, digital and earned media. She previously worked as a press secretary on Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in Pennsylvania.
Sources: NYC.gov/mayors-office/ , Big New York news BigNY.com
