NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City just after midnight Thursday, taking the oath of office in a private ceremony at a historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan.
Mamdani, a Democrat, placed his hand on a Quran as he was sworn in, becoming the first Muslim mayor of the nation’s largest city. The ceremony was held at the old City Hall subway station, one of New York’s original subway stops, known for its ornate arches and tiled ceilings.
“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said in brief remarks following the oath.
The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally, as Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, looked on.
In his first comments as mayor, Mamdani described the former subway station as “a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city.” He also announced his appointment of Mike Flynn as the city’s new transportation commissioner.
“Thank you all so much — now I will see you later,” Mamdani said with a smile before leaving the station.
Mamdani is scheduled to be sworn in again later Thursday in a public ceremony at City Hall, with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders administering the oath. The event will be followed by a public block party along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” the famed route for New York’s ticker-tape parades.
At 34, Mamdani takes office as the youngest New York City mayor in generations. He is also the city’s first mayor of South Asian descent and the first born in Africa.
He assumes one of the most demanding roles in American politics at a moment of both opportunity and challenge for the city. His campaign, which helped push “affordability” to the forefront of political debate, featured a democratic socialist platform that included proposals for free child care, free bus service, a rent freeze for roughly one million households, and a pilot program for city-run grocery stores.
At the same time, Mamdani inherits responsibility for the everyday pressures of running the city — from sanitation and snow removal to subway delays, potholes, and public safety.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved to New York City when he was seven, and he came of age in the post–Sept. 11 era. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
After working on Democratic political campaigns, Mamdani won a seat in the New York State Assembly in 2020, representing part of Queens.
He and Duwaji will move from their one-bedroom, rent-stabilized apartment in the outer boroughs into the city’s official mayoral residence in Manhattan.
Mamdani takes office as New York continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime has declined to pre-pandemic levels, tourism has rebounded, and unemployment has returned to rates seen before the public health crisis. Still, residents continue to face high prices and rising rents.
The new mayor will also have to navigate relations with Republican President Donald Trump. During the campaign, Trump threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani were elected and suggested deploying the National Guard to the city. However, the two met cordially at the White House in November.
“I want him to do a great job and will help him do a great job,” Trump said at the time.
Despite that meeting, tensions are expected to resurface, particularly over immigration policy.
Mamdani also faces skepticism from some members of New York’s Jewish community over his criticism of Israel’s government.
In the weeks leading up to his inauguration, Mamdani focused on assembling an experienced transition team, including persuading Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to remain in her role — a decision that helped ease concerns within the business community about potential changes to policing.