Zohran Mamdani Sworn in as New York City Mayor in Historic Ceremony
Zohran Mamdani, 34, was sworn in as New York City mayor in a midnight private ceremony held at the Old City Hall Beaux-Arts subway station. The oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Mamdani took the oath on a Qur’an, marking the first time a New York City mayor has used the Qur’an for the swearing-in.
Attendees at the private ceremony included Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji, his mother Mira Nair, his father Mahmood Mamdani, and outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. A public swearing-in is planned for 1pm at City Hall, featuring an introduction by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the official swearing-in by Senator Bernie Sanders.
The choice of the Old City Hall Station as the venue reflected Mamdani's commitment to working people and his vision of reviving a sense of progress for the city. He won the November election with 50.78% of the vote, defeating Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo, after having previously defeated Cuomo in the primary. The then-incumbent Mayor Eric Adams was under federal scrutiny during the election.
Mamdani's campaign platform focused on making the city more affordable, including proposals such as rent freezes, free metro transport, city-run grocery stores, and the establishment of a Department of Community Safety aimed at funding mental health programs. His campaign was notably supported by more than 10,000 volunteers who knocked on over 100,000 doors.
