In a historic ceremony held just after midnight, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the new mayor of New York City, marking a significant shift for the United States' most populous metropolis.
A Midnight Oath in a Beaux Arts Time Capsule
The 34-year-old mayor-elect chose a uniquely symbolic location for his first oath of office: the abandoned, ornate Old City Hall subway station. Surrounded by close family, including his wife Rama Duwaji, filmmaker mother Mira Nair, and professor father Mahmood Mamdani, he was sworn in by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani stated, connecting the venue to his vision for the city. He described the station as "a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, the legacy of our city."
Symbolism and a New Political Era
In a personal and historic gesture, Mamdani took his oath with his hand placed on a Qur'an, becoming the first New York City mayor to do so. He used his grandfather's copy alongside one lent by the New York Public Library that belonged to Black historian Arturo Schomburg.
The intimate midnight event was a prelude to a full day of celebrations, including a public swearing-in later where he will be introduced by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and sworn in by Senator Bernie Sanders. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams attended, noting his desire to show a "smooth, peaceful transition of power."
The Platform and the Path to Power
Mamdani's rise represents a remarkable ascent for both a political newcomer and the Democratic Socialist movement. His November victory, where he secured 50.78% of the vote against Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo, was built on a platform focused on affordability.
His campaign, which mobilised over 10,000 volunteers, promised rent freezes, free metro transport, city-run grocery stores, and a new department of community safety. Immediately after his swearing-in, he appointed veteran planner Mike Flynn as transportation commissioner, tasking him with making New York's network "the envy of the world."
Political commentator Hank Sheinkopf observed that Mamdani "represents the city of the future – a more Asian city, a more Muslim city, and what could be a more leftwing city." The day's events cement a new chapter for New York, driven by a mayor who vows the city's ambitious spirit "need not be a memory confined only to our past."
