In the opening minutes of 2026, Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as the Mayor of New York City, marking the beginning of what his team calls a "New Era" for the American metropolis.
The 34-year-old former state lawmaker took his oath in the decommissioned, historic City Hall subway station, a site chosen to symbolize his commitment to the city's working class.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath of office. Mamdani was accompanied by his wife, Rama Duwaji. The subterranean setting reflects his platform of prioritizing public infrastructure and labor.
Mamdani becomes the first Muslim mayor of New York City. A self-described democratic socialist, he secured the mayoralty with a record-breaking turnout of over 2 million voters, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
His campaign was built on aggressive affordability measures, including a rent freeze, free city buses, and universal childcare—policies he views as a blueprint for the Democratic Party nationwide.
The presence of Letitia James and the upcoming involvement of Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his public ceremony underscore Mamdani's progressive alignment. Notably, his administration is expected to serve as a high-profile counterweight to the Trump administration on issues like immigration.
Following the private midnight oath, a public "Inauguration of a New Era" ceremony will be held on the steps of City Hall this afternoon for 4,000 guests, with tens of thousands expected to watch via livestreams on Broadway. Mamdani will soon relocate from his rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria to the official mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion.
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