Zohran Mamdani was sworn in early Thursday as the 111th mayor of New York City, marking a historic moment as he begins leading the nation’s largest city with an ambitious progressive agenda focused on affordability, public services, and transit.
New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath just after midnight during an intimate ceremony attended by Mamdani’s family and close supporters. The event took place at the long-closed City Hall IRT subway station, a symbolic location reflecting Mamdani’s emphasis on public transportation as a pillar of the city’s future.
“This is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said after taking the oath, calling the former subway station a reminder of how central transit is to New York’s identity, health, and economic vitality.
A Historic and Symbolic Swearing-In
Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history, took the oath with his hands placed on two Qurans—one passed down from his grandfather and another preserved by the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The library said the second Quran is believed to date back to Ottoman Syria in the 19th century.
Later Thursday, Mamdani is set to participate in a larger public inauguration and neighborhood block party. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will administer a ceremonial oath during the event, which Mamdani said was intentionally designed to be open and inclusive rather than limited to political elites.
“This is not my success—it’s our success,” Mamdani said ahead of the celebration. “This administration belongs to the people of New York.”
Preparing to Govern
Mamdani expressed confidence that his administration will be fully staffed and ready to begin governing immediately, with a focus on both affordability initiatives and the everyday services New Yorkers rely on.
The next major milestone for the new mayor will come on Jan. 7, when New York’s state legislative session begins in Albany. Many of Mamdani’s priorities will require cooperation from state lawmakers.
An Ambitious Policy Agenda
During his campaign, Mamdani outlined a sweeping plan to reduce the cost of living in New York City. His proposals include universal free child care, fare-free bus service, and a freeze on rent increases for certain regulated apartments.
To fund these initiatives, Mamdani has proposed raising taxes on residents earning more than $1 million annually. However, any changes to city tax policy would need approval from state leaders.
While some Democratic lawmakers have shown openness to higher taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations, Gov. Kathy Hochul has consistently opposed broad tax increases. Still, Hochul has recently suggested she is willing to explore alternative revenue sources, including adjustments to corporate taxes, to support shared policy goals.
“It is my job as governor to make sure the mayor is successful,” Hochul said in a December interview, noting that budget negotiations will determine what initiatives can move forward in the short and long term.
A New Chapter for City Hall
Backed by prominent progressive figures such as Sen. Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani enters office with strong grassroots support—and high expectations. As he begins his term, the coming months will test how effectively his transformative vision can be translated into policy within the complex realities of city and state governance.
