New York, USA — Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as the 112th mayor of New York City in a historic ceremony just after midnight, marking a landmark moment in the city’s political history.
In a private event held at the decommissioned Old City Hall subway station in Manhattan, Mamdani placed his hand on a Qur’an as he took the oath of office, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first of South Asian descent, and the youngest person in generations to lead America’s largest city.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said shortly after taking the oath, reflecting both the gravity and excitement of the moment.
The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, with Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, by his side.
Mamdani’s choice of venue — a now-abandoned subway station with ornate arched ceilings — was symbolic, underscoring his campaign emphasis on public transit and working-class priorities.
A public swearing-in ceremony is planned later in the day at City Hall, where Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are expected to preside, followed by a celebratory event along Broadway.
Mamdani’s victory in the November 2025 election represented a major shift in New York politics. He defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, winning with just over 50 percent of the vote.
His campaign focused heavily on affordability, housing, public transit, and community safety — themes that resonated with many voters in a city grappling with rising living costs and infrastructure challenges.
As he begins his term, Mamdani faces the complex task of transforming campaign promises into policy while leading a diverse and bustling city in the year ahead.
Mamdani, 34, was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. After spending three years in Cape Town, South Africa, when Mamdani was five to seven years old, his family moved to the United States, settling in New York City. Mamdani graduated from the Bronx High School of Science before receiving a bachelor’s degree with a major in Africana studies from Bowdoin College in 2014.
