Zohran Mamdani was publicly sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor on January 1st, marking the start of an administration he has described as ambitious and expansive, while also highlighting the political divisions he inherits in the nation’s largest city.
Mamdani, 34, formally took office during a midday ceremony on the steps of City Hall after an earlier, private swearing-in just after midnight at the long-closed Old City Hall subway station. The midnight ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, while U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders delivered the oath at the public inauguration.
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams attended both events to signal a “peaceful transition of power.” Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian descent, and the first born in Africa. He was sworn in using the Quran. In his inaugural address, Mamdani pledged to usher in what he called “a new era” for New York City, promising to govern “expansively and audaciously.” He emphasized restoring faith in government and using City Hall’s authority to address affordability, public services, and economic inequality. Mamdani asserted that he was elected as a democratic socialist and would govern according to those principles, drawing loud applause from supporters gathered in the cold outside City Hall.
The new mayor outlined priorities that include freezing rent for roughly one million rent-stabilized households, making city buses free, expanding access to childcare, and pursuing reforms to public safety and housing. He also highlighted the symbolic importance of beginning his term in a subway station, describing public transit as central to the city’s vitality and future.
Mamdani secured the mayoralty with 51% of the vote, while 49% did not vote for him, highlighting the work ahead to broaden his support.
Within hours of taking office, Mamdani revoked all executive orders issued by Adams after September 26, 2024, following Adams’s federal corruption indictment. The decision reflected a desire for a clean break while leaving open the possibility that some policies would be reissued after review. The steps mark an assertive start to a mayoralty that will be closely watched in New York and beyond.
