January 1, 2026 — Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th mayor of New York City in the first moments of the new year, marking a series of historic firsts for America’s largest city.
Mamdani, 34, took the oath of office just after midnight on January 1 at a private ceremony held in the decommissioned City Hall subway station beneath Lower Manhattan. The oath was administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, with his wife, Rama Duwaji, holding a Quran upon which he placed his hand.
The historic ceremony under the station’s vaulted ceilings symbolised Mamdani’s campaign emphasis on public transit, affordability and equity — key pillars of his platform that resonated widely during the 2025 mayoral race.
Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor, its first mayor of South Asian descent, and the youngest person to hold the office in generations. Born in Kampala, Uganda, he moved to New York as a child and later served as a Democratic state assemblyman before his election in November 2025.
A public inauguration ceremony is scheduled later Thursday at City Hall’s steps, where supporters and civic leaders, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are expected to participate in celebrations that include a block party along Broadway’s famed Canyon of Heroes.
Mamdani’s election capped a campaign focused on cost-of-living issues, including proposals for free child care, free subway buses, rent freezes, and other progressive measures intended to ease life in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
As he steps into office, Mamdani inherits a city still grappling with affordability and infrastructure challenges, setting the stage for a transformative, closely watched tenure in one of global urban governance’s most demanding roles
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