The strategist behind Zohran Mamdani’s winning campaign

Andrew Bard Epstein is the man who did what many believed was impossible. As Communications Director and Creative Director, he led the strategy that helped propel outsider Zohran Mamdani – a Muslim, democratic socialist, and relatively unknown candidate – to victory as Mayor of New York in a deeply polarized United States.

The campaign drew attention far beyond American politics. Instead of relying on traditional media, Epstein and his team built a digital mobilization machine – a universe of stories, videos, and moments from the city that eventually became known as the “Zohraniverse.” Through social media, massive volunteer mobilization, and a crystal-clear message about the cost of living, they managed to reach millions of voters and make politics both tangible and personal.

We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Bard Epstein to Bergen in May where he will take the audience behind the scenes of the campaign. How do you build a digital movement that actually gets people to show up, knock on doors – and vote? How do you create political impact in a media landscape defined by low trust, fragmented audiences, and algorithm-driven attention?