New York | Jan, 1 : Zohran Mamdani became the mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday, taking the oath of office at a historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan.
A Democrat, Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America’s largest city, placing his hand on a Quran as he took the oath. “This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said in a brief speech.
The ceremony was administered by Letitia James, a political ally, at the old City Hall subway station, one of the city’s original stops known for its arched ceilings.
In his first remarks as mayor, Mamdani described the old subway station as a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city” as he announced the appointment of his new Department of Transportation commissioner, Mike Flynn. He closed his speech saying, “Thank you all so much, now I will see you later,” before heading up a flight of stairs.
Mamdani will take the oath again in a public ceremony at City Hall at 1 pm, to be administered by US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of his political heroes. The ceremony will be followed by a public block party on Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” a stretch famous for ticker-tape parades.
At 34, Mamdani becomes one of the youngest mayors in generations. He is also the city’s first mayor of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. He now begins one of the most demanding roles in American politics, stepping into office as one of the country’s most closely watched politicians.
Running a campaign that helped make “affordability” a buzzword across the political spectrum, the democratic socialist pledged transformative changes aimed at lowering the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
His platform included free child care, free buses, a rent freeze for about 1 million households, and a pilot program for city-run grocery stores. At the same time, he faces the everyday responsibilities of running the city, from trash collection and snow removal to subway delays and potholes.
Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to filmmaker Mira Nair and academic and author Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved to New York City when he was seven. He grew up in a post-9/11 city where Muslims did not always feel welcome and became an American citizen in 2018.
Before becoming mayor, Mamdani worked on political campaigns for Democratic candidates and was elected to the state Assembly in 2020, representing a section of Queens. He and his wife, Rama Duwaji, will move from their one-bedroom, rent-stabilised apartment in the outer boroughs to the official mayoral residence in Manhattan.
Mamdani inherits a city that has rebounded after years of slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime has fallen to pre-pandemic levels, tourism has returned, and unemployment has dropped back to pre-COVID rates. However, concerns over high prices and rising rents remain.
He will also have to navigate relations with Republican President Donald Trump. During the mayoral race, Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani won and raised the possibility of sending National Guard troops. However, Trump later invited Mamdani to the White House for a cordial meeting in November, saying, “I want him to do a great job and will help him do a great job.” Policy disagreements, particularly over immigration, are expected to continue.
Mamdani also faces skepticism from sections of the city’s Jewish community over his criticism of Israel’s government. In preparation for taking office, his team spent weeks planning the transition and assembling experienced officials, including persuading police commissioner Jessica Tisch to remain in her role, a move that eased concerns in the business community about potential changes to policing.
