Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor early Thursday, marking a historic moment for the city. The 34-year-old democratic socialist takes office as the first Muslim mayor, the first South Asian mayor, and the youngest person to lead New York City in more than 100 years.
The oath of office was administered just after midnight in a private ceremony at the Old City Hall subway station in Manhattan. New York Attorney General Letitia James, whom Mamdani has often called a political inspiration, administered the oath. Zohran Mamdani’s wife, artist Rama Duwaji, along with his parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, was present.
“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said shortly after being sworn in.
The location carried symbolic meaning. The Old City Hall subway station, closed since 1945, is one of the city’s original subway stations that opened in 1904. Mamdani said the setting highlighted the importance of public transportation to New York’s past and future.
Zonhran Mamdani Takes Office as New York Mayor with Focus on Affordability and Public Transit
Zohran Mamdani rose to prominence after winning the Democratic primary last summer, surprising much of the political establishment. A former state assemblyman from Queens, he ran a campaign centered on affordability in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. His key promises include universal childcare, a rent freeze for about two million rent-stabilized tenants, and making city buses fast and free.
Public transportation is a major focus of his administration. Along with free buses, Zohran Mamdani has pledged to expand bike lanes and redesign streets to better serve pedestrians. He also announced Michael Flynn, a longtime city planner, as the new commissioner of the Department of Transportation.
A larger public swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at City Hall Plaza, where around 4,000 people are expected to attend. Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will introduce Mamdani, and Senator Bernie Sanders will administer the public oath. A block party titled “Inauguration of a New Era” will follow outside City Hall.
Zohran Mamdani begins his term with an ambitious agenda that includes taxing the wealthy to fund social programs, a move that will require support from the state legislature and the governor. He takes office at a time when New York’s economy is relatively strong, but high living costs continue to strain working-class residents.
His victory has also sparked a wider debate within the Democratic Party, as leaders and voters assess whether a stronger focus on affordability and progressive policies is the path forward in upcoming elections.
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