Zohran Mamdani officially became New York City’s mayor shortly after midnight on Thursday, taking his first oath of office inside a historic, long-closed subway station in Manhattan.
A Democrat, Mamdani made history as the first Muslim mayor of the nation’s largest city, swearing in with his hand placed on a Quran.
Calling the moment “the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani spoke briefly during the private ceremony, which was led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The event was held at the former City Hall subway station, one of the system’s earliest stops, famed for its ornate arches and vaulted ceilings.
In his first comments as mayor, Mamdani described the station as a symbol of the essential role public transportation plays in the city’s past and future. He also announced Mike Flynn as his choice to lead the Department of Transportation. Smiling, he wrapped up his remarks before exiting up a staircase.
Later in the day, Mamdani is scheduled to take the oath again in a larger public ceremony at City Hall, administered by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. The event will be followed by a block party along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” a route historically used for ticker-tape parades.
Mamdani now steps into one of the most demanding roles in American public life and becomes one of the country’s most closely watched political figures.
Beyond being the city’s first Muslim mayor, he is also the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. At 34, he is among the youngest mayors New York has had in decades.
Running on a platform that made affordability a central campaign issue, the democratic socialist pledged sweeping changes to ease the cost of living. His proposals included free child care, fare-free buses, a rent freeze for roughly one million apartments, and a trial of city-operated grocery stores.
Alongside those ambitions, Mamdani must also manage the everyday challenges of running the city, from sanitation and snow removal to transit disruptions and infrastructure repairs.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved to New York when he was 7. He later became a U.S. citizen in 2018 after growing up in a post-9/11 city where many Muslims faced discrimination.
Before running for mayor, Mamdani worked on Democratic political campaigns and was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, representing part of Queens.
He and his wife, Rama Duwaji, will move from their rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment in the outer boroughs into the official mayoral residence in Manhattan.
Mamdani takes office as the city shows signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with violent crime falling to pre-pandemic levels, tourism rebounding, and unemployment returning to earlier norms. Still, high living costs and rising rents remain major concerns.
He will also have to navigate relations with Republican President Donald Trump. During the campaign, Trump threatened to cut federal funding and suggested deploying National Guard troops if Mamdani won. However, the two later met at the White House in what was described as a cordial discussion.
Trump said he wanted Mamdani to succeed, though their sharp policy differences—especially on immigration—are likely to cause renewed friction.
Mamdani also faces criticism from segments of the city’s Jewish community over his stance on Israel’s government.
Since winning the election, Mamdani and his team have focused on preparing for the transition, assembling experienced advisers familiar with city government. That effort included convincing Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay on, easing concerns among business leaders about potential major shifts in policing policy.