Zohran Mamdani on Thursday officially became the mayor of New York City, stepping into one of the most demanding roles in American politics with a sweeping promise to transform government in favour of the city’s struggling and striving working class.
A Democrat and self-described democratic socialist, was sworn in just after midnight at a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall, symbolically placing his hand on the Quran as he took the oath of office. The historic moment marked him as the first Muslim mayor of New York City, as well as the city’s first mayor of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa.
After spending part of the night working in his new office, Mamdani returned to City Hall around midday for a larger public inauguration ceremony. The event drew thousands of supporters despite freezing temperatures and was highlighted by the presence of , one of Mamdani’s political inspirations, who administered the oath for a second time.
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously,” Mamdani told a cheering crowd. “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
Rejecting arguments that government should step back from addressing social problems, he added: “To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this: no longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives.”
Large crowds gathered south of City Hall along Broadway, an area famously known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” to watch the ceremony on giant screens. The atmosphere was celebratory, with music, singing, and volunteers handing out hot cocoa and hand warmers to counter the cold. Many attendees said they felt they were witnessing a historic turning point for the city.
Mamdani wasted little time getting to work. Shortly after the inauguration, he revoked several executive orders issued by the previous administration following September 26, 2024, the date federal authorities announced corruption charges against former mayor , which were later dismissed after intervention by the Trump administration. Mamdani then travelled to Brooklyn, where he announced plans to revitalise a city office dedicated to tenant protection and to establish two new task forces focused on accelerating housing construction.
Throughout the ceremony, Mamdani and other speakers returned repeatedly to the message that powered his electoral victory: using government authority to tackle inequality and the soaring cost of living in America’s largest city.
“I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” Mamdani declared. “I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed ‘radical.’”
Before administering the oath, Sanders reinforced that message, arguing that Mamdani’s policy goals were not extreme but necessary. “In the richest country in the history of the world, making sure that people can live in affordable housing is not radical,” Sanders said. “It is the right and decent thing to do.”
Mamdani was joined on stage by his wife, Rama Duwaji, while former mayor Eric Adams attended the ceremony, seated near another former mayor, . The programme also featured cultural and religious moments reflecting the city’s diversity. Actor sang “Over the Rainbow” with an elementary school choir, Imam Khalid Latif of the Islamic Center of New York City delivered the invocation, and poet recited an original poem titled “Proof.”
At 34 years old, Mamdani is the youngest New York City mayor in generations. Born in Kampala, Uganda, he is the son of renowned filmmaker and academic . His family moved to New York when he was seven, and he grew up in a post-9/11 city where Muslims often felt marginalised. He became a US citizen in 2018.
Before becoming mayor, Mamdani worked on several Democratic campaigns and was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, representing parts of Queens. His rise to City Hall has been rapid and closely watched nationwide.
Central to his campaign were bold affordability proposals, including free child care, free bus services, a rent freeze for nearly one million households, and a pilot programme for city-run grocery stores. Mamdani told supporters he would not waste the opportunity to pursue those policies.
“A moment like this comes rarely,” he said. “Too often in our past, moments of great possibility have been surrendered to small imagination and smaller ambition. This time will be different.”
Supporters at the Broadway watch party echoed that sentiment. Sixteen-year-old Bronx resident Ariel Segura said he arrived five hours early to secure a spot near the front. “I’m out here fan-girling a politician,” he said tearfully. “Now it’s time to hold him accountable.”
Mamdani now faces the everyday challenges of running America’s largest city, from sanitation and public transport to housing and public safety. While New York has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, with crime, tourism, and employment returning to pre-pandemic levels, concerns over rising rents and prices remain acute.
In her remarks, US Congresswoman praised voters for choosing “courage over fear” and “prosperity for the many over spoils for the few.”
Mamdani’s tenure is also expected to be shaped by his relationship with , who previously threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won. Despite that, Trump later invited him to the White House for what both described as a cordial meeting. Tensions are nonetheless expected to resurface, particularly over immigration policy.
As Mamdani begins his term, supporters see him as a potential unifying figure in a deeply divided political climate. “There are moments where everyone in New York comes together,” said Mary Hammann, a musician with the Metropolitan Opera. “This feels like one of those moments — just colder.”
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