In a historic moment for American politics, Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated as the 110th mayor of New York City on Friday 2 January 2026. The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist, fresh from celebrating his beloved Arsenal football club topping the Premier League, now takes the helm of America's most populous city, promising to govern with courage and without hesitation.
A Historic Inauguration and a Bold Pledge
The new mayor's journey to power began with a symbolic, midnight oath-taking at the rarely accessible Old City Hall subway stop. This intimate ceremony set the stage for a later, grander event at City Hall, where he was officially sworn in by his political hero, Senator Bernie Sanders. Attorney General Letitia James administered the initial oath, with Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, looking on.
Addressing a crowd of thousands who braved the cold, Mayor Mamdani laid out his vision unequivocally. "Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously," he declared. "We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try." He emphasised that his administration "will not hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers' lives", signalling a clear shift towards activist, big government in the city.
Breaking Barriers and Setting Records
Mamdani's election is groundbreaking on multiple fronts. He is New York City's first Muslim mayor, its first person of South Asian descent to hold the office, and its first African-born mayor, having been born in Uganda. His political ascent was powered by a platform focused on tackling the city's spiralling cost of living, with flagship policies including rent freezes and making buses free.
This message resonated powerfully with the electorate, inspiring a record-breaking turnout of more than two million voters. Mamdani secured 50% of the vote, finishing nearly ten points ahead of his closest rival, former Democratic New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent.
Immediate Action and a New Era
The new mayor moved swiftly to mark a clean break from the previous administration. On his first day, he revoked all executive orders issued since 26 September 2024. This date is significant as it marks when federal authorities announced the indictment of former mayor Eric Adams on corruption charges, which were later dismissed following an intervention by Donald Trump.
While not the city's first mayor associated with democratic socialism—David Dinkins was also a member—Mamdani is the first to embrace the label so prominently. "I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist," he affirmed. The former state assemblyman will now relocate from his one-bedroom apartment in Astoria to the official mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side.
As Zohran Mamdani settles into his new role, the eyes of the world are on New York to see how his promises of audacious, people-first governance will translate into action for its eight million residents.
