Mamdani has appointed Waleed Shahid as the Deputy Communications Director of Economic Justice. Shahid previously worked for the political action committee Justice Democrats and in various capacities for U.S. House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former House Rep. Jamaal Bowman who are both from New York City. He also led the charge of the Uncommitted Movement in the 2024 presidential race, a campaign to pressure the candidates and government to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, though Shahid later said he voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.