Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York Metropolis’s 112th mayor by New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James, left, alongside his spouse Rama Duwaji, proper, within the former Metropolis Corridor subway station on January 1, 2026 in New York Metropolis.
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Simply after midnight, Zohran Kwame Mamdani was sworn in as New York Metropolis’s first Muslim mayor in a modest ceremony held in a historic subway station beneath Metropolis Corridor. Mamdani’s astonishing rise during the last 12 months took him from a marginal function as a backbench New York state lawmaker to the top of energy within the largest metropolis within the U.S.
“Thanks a lot to everybody for being right here, Pleased New Yr to New Yorkers,” Mamdani mentioned, flashing his trademark grin. “That is actually the distinction and privilege of a lifetime.”
The oath was administered by New York state Legal professional Normal Letitia James, a fellow Democrat and an in depth Mamdani ally. “Congratulations, Mr. Mayor,” she mentioned, to cheers.
A a lot bigger public ceremony might be held in a while New Yr’s Day on the steps of Metropolis Corridor, with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders — considered one of Mamdani’s political mentors — and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez anticipated to participate.
An immigrant’s victory, a give attention to affordability
An immigrant born in Uganda to oldsters with roots in India, Mamdani’s political triumph in 2025 got here at a time when President Trump and his high advisors have been quickly reshaping U.S. coverage to sharply restrict immigration, particularly for Muslims and folks from African nations.
Mamdani’s critics, together with Trump but in addition many leaders within the Democratic Get together, additionally raised considerations about his membership within the Democratic Socialists of America in addition to his frequent criticism of Israel and the warfare in Gaza.
Trump falsely described Mamdani as a “communist” and mentioned his rising affect was “a catastrophe ready to occur. We will not have a communist accountable for an incredible, supposedly free enterprise type of a consultant metropolis,” he mentioned.
These assaults did not sluggish Mamdani’s march to victory. Within the normal election, he defeated Andrew Cuomo, as soon as a Democratic Get together titan, by almost ten factors.
“The long run is in our arms,” Mamdani mentioned throughout his victory speech in November. “On this second of political darkness, New York would be the gentle.”
A lot of Mamdani’s marketing campaign centered on kitchen desk points and affordability. He promised free bus service, common baby care, government-run grocery shops, and a freeze on rents for flats that fall beneath town’s authority.
Whereas specializing in pocket guide considerations, Mamdani additionally managed to appeal a lot of his early opponents, constructing a broad coalition of supporters — a lot of them younger — and profitable endorsements from a few of New York Metropolis’s most influential Jewish leaders.
President Donald Trump met with New York Metropolis Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the 2 political opponents met to debate insurance policies for New York Metropolis, together with affordability, public security, and immigration enforcement. Mamdani was sworn in as mayor on January 1st 2026 in an early morning ceremony.
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In a gathering that adopted his November win, even Trump promised to assist Mamdani, regardless of his harsh rhetoric in the course of the marketing campaign: “I anticipate to be serving to him, not hurting him – a giant assist, as a result of I would like New York Metropolis to be nice,” Trump mentioned.
Attaining Mamdani’s formidable marketing campaign guarantees will not be straightforward. Â A lot of his proposals require company and private tax hikes for the rich, which will not occur with out assist from extra centrist Democrats in Albany, the state capital. However New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already signaled assist for Mamdani’s purpose of free childcare.
Mamdani has additionally drawn reward for constructing a administration group that features skilled veterans — together with his determination to maintain NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch in his cupboard. However there have been missteps. Final month, considered one of Mamdani’s high appointments withdrew after the Anti-Defamation League surfaced social media posts from greater than a decade in the past broadly considered as insensitive and anti-Semitic.
