NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s youngest and first Muslim mayor on early Thursday, beginning his four-year term with a symbolic ceremony at an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall that underscored his focus on working people and public transit.
The 34-year-old Democrat, now New York’s youngest mayor in generations, made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor. Mamdani took the oath of office with his hand on the Holy Quran, pledging to govern in line with the promises he made during his campaign.
“Happy New Year to New Yorkers, both inside this tunnel and above,” Mamdani said following the ceremony. “This is truly an honor and a privilege of a lifetime.” He described the historic subway station as a symbol of the city’s transit system and its importance to New York’s vitality and future.
The initial swearing-in was conducted shortly after midnight to formally mark the start of his term, following long-standing city tradition. A larger public inauguration was scheduled later in the day at City Hall, led by Senator Bernie Sanders, with speeches from prominent progressive leaders and a public block party planned along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes.”
Mamdani campaigned on a bold platform centered on affordability, including promises to freeze rents, expand free childcare, introduce free public buses, and pilot city-run grocery stores. His victory is widely seen as signaling a significant leftward shift in New York City politics and a potential model for Democrats nationwide.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York City with his family at the age of seven. He previously served in the New York State Assembly and ran a campaign that energized voters, drawing record turnout and delivering a decisive electoral win.
As he begins his tenure, attention now turns to how quickly Mamdani can translate his ambitious promises into policy in a city known for both its scale and its impatience.
