Zohran Mamdani Is Sworn In as Mayor of New York City
Source: New York Times
Zohran Mamdani Is Sworn In as Mayor of New York City
Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as mayor of New York City at the old City Hall subway station early Thursday. Amir Hamja for The New York Times
Zohran Mamdani officially took office as mayor after the New Year’s Eve ball drop, in a private ceremony held at a shuttered relic of the city’s subway.
By Dana Rubinstein
Published Dec. 31, 2025
Updated Jan. 1, 2026, 2:29 a.m. ET
Zohran Mamdani, the left-leaning populist who deployed a mix of charm, social media savvy and an unyielding focus on affordability to catapult him to political stardom, was officially sworn in as mayor of New York City early Thursday, just after the New Year’s Eve ball dropped in Times Square. .. The ceremony, held underground at an abandoned showpiece of a subway station by City Hall, caps Mr. Mamdani’s yearlong rise from obscure state lawmaker to international figure, embodying the hopes of New Yorkers and Americans across the country who were enthralled by his journey to becoming the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor.
Four minutes before midnight, Mr. Mamdani, 34; his wife, Rama Duwaji; and Letitia James, the state attorney general, disembarked from a No. 6 train into the grimy, dimly lit, and yet stunning subway station. They promptly took their places on the steps beneath a dramatic archway emblazoned with the words, “City Hall.” And then they waited, a bit awkwardly, a bit jovially, for the arrival of the appointed hour.
There was discussion of New Year’s resolutions. Ms. James began to sing “Volare.” ... And finally, after an impromptu countdown to midnight and cries of “Happy New Year,” Mr. Mamdani placed his left hand on two Qurans held by his wife, raised his right hand and recited the oath of office (one Quran belonged to his grandfather, the other belonged to Arturo Schomburg, the Black historian and writer). Ms. James swore in Mr. Mamdani as a smattering of family, allies and reporters looked on.
“Congratulations, Mr. Mayor,” Ms. James said, to cheers. ... Mr. Mamdani then signed the oath of office, handed the requisite $9, in cash, to the city clerk, Michael McSweeney, and signed a leather-bound book so the clerk can attest to the validity of his signature on future city documents. {snip} A public inauguration will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday on the steps of City Hall, an event that will feature two of Mr. Mamdani’s most powerful colleagues on the left: Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who will administer a ceremonial oath of office; and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who will make opening remarks.
{snip}
Nate Schweber contributed reporting.
Dana Rubinstein covers New York City politics and government for The Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/dana-rubinstein
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/nyregion/mamdani-mayor-swearing-in.html
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