Zohran Mamdani Makes History, Sworn In as New York City’s 112th Mayor

As the new year arrived, New York City stepped into a new political era with the swearing-in of Zohran Mamdani, who now becomes the city’s 112th mayor and the first Muslim and South Asian New Yorker to hold the office. His inauguration marks a generational shift in leadership and caps off a rapid rise from state politics to the city’s top job.

Mamdani took the oath of office in a midnight ceremony beneath City Hall, in the long-shuttered Old City Hall subway station — a location chosen deliberately to highlight his focus on transit access and working-class issues. His hand rested on two Qurans: one a family heirloom, the other sourced from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center collection, adding symbolism to the moment and nodding to his heritage.

Following the ceremony, Mamdani called the opportunity to serve “the honor of a lifetime,” promising to bring urgency and imagination to challenges like housing affordability, transit access, childcare, and safety. Later today, the city will host a public inauguration on the steps of City Hall, where Sen. Bernie Sanders is expected to administer a ceremonial oath. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is also scheduled to speak, with thousands anticipated to attend a celebratory gathering downtown.

Mamdani enters office with an ambitious platform — including proposals to freeze rents, make buses free, and expand universal childcare. Supporters see his win as part of a growing progressive wave in urban politics, while critics question how his agenda will be funded and implemented. His administration now faces the challenge of translating campaign promises into policy.

For New Yorkers — and the region watching closely — the first day of 2026 wasn’t just a calendar turn. It was the beginning of a new chapter at City Hall.