Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City Mayor

Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as New York City’s mayor on Thursday (January 1), marking a historic moment for the city.

The 34-year-old took the oath on a copy of the Holy Quran at Manhattan’s historic Old City Hall subway station, closed since 1945, highlighting the city’s labour heritage.

The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Mamdani is both the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history and one of the youngest in recent generations. A larger public oath ceremony is scheduled at City Hall at 1:00pm, where US Senator Bernie Sanders will administer the oath, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver the inaugural address. Celebrations will also include a public reception and block party at Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes.”

Born in Kampala of Uganda, Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved permanently to New York in 1999, and he became a US citizen in 2018.

During his campaign, Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, prioritised reducing the cost of living. His agenda includes free bus services, rent freezes for nearly one million tenants, universal childcare, and pilot city-run grocery stores.

As mayor, Mamdani faces both strong public support and major administrative challenges, including waste management, snow removal, and long-standing subway issues. His progressive policies will be closely watched by both New Yorkers and the national political arena.