Zohran Mamdani has been sworn in as Mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim and the 112th person to take the oath of office in the United States’ biggest city.
Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in at a historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan just after midnight on Thursday, January 1, 2026, placing his hand on the Quran as he took his oath.
According to media outlets, the Qurans used during the ceremony included a copy belonging to Mamdani’s grandfather and another once owned by Black writer and historian Arturo Schomburg lent by the New York Public Library.
The ceremony, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally, took place at the old City Hall station, one of the city’s original subway stops known for its stunning arched ceilings.
New York law spells out that four-year mayoral terms start on the January 1 after elections. To avoid any ambiguity about who’s in charge of America’s most populous city, it has become a tradition to hold a small swearing-in just after midnight.
Mamdani chose the Old City Hall subway stop, which was decommissioned in the middle of the previous century and is accessible only a few times a year through guided tours, as the site of his swearing in.
The subway site, according to Mamdani’s transition team, reflects his “commitment to the working people who keep our city running every day.”
Mamdani will be sworn in again, in grander style, at a public ceremony at City Hall at 1pm (18:00 GMT) by US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the Mayor’s political heroes.
That will be followed by what the new administration is billing as a public block party on a stretch of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes”, famous for its ticker-tape parades.
Mamdani raised $2.6 million for the transition and celebrations from nearly 30,000 contributors, more than other mayors on record this century, both by the total and single donations, according to official campaign data that presents disclosures of inaugural expenses beginning with Michael Bloomberg’s first term in 2001.
In addition to being the city’s first Muslim Mayor, Mamdani is also its first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. At 34, Mamdani is the city’s youngest Mayor in generations.
Mamdani said at the ceremony, “This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime.”
Mamdani now begins one of the most unrelenting jobs in US politics as one of the country’s most-watched politicians.
In his campaign, the democratic socialist promised to bring transformative change with policies intended to lower the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
His platform included free childcare, free buses, a rent freeze for approximately 1 million households, and a pilot program of city-run grocery stores.
However, he will also have to face other responsibilities: Handling rubbish, snow and rats, while getting blamed for subway delays and potholes.
Mamdani will also have to deal with Republican President Donald Trump.
During the mayoral race, Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani won, mused about sending National Guard troops to New York City, and suggested that Mamdani should be deported.
He also called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” in a social media post.But Trump surprised supporters and foes alike by inviting the Democrat to the White House for what ended up being a cordial meeting in November. Still, tensions between the two remain.
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