Zohran Mamdani Sworn in as New York City's Youngest and First Muslim Mayor
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026 in a ceremony held on the City Hall steps, followed by a celebration attended by 40,000 people in Lower Manhattan.
He became the city's youngest mayor since 1892, as well as the first Muslim mayor and the first mayor born in Africa.
Mamdani campaigned on issues of affordability, notably proposing a rent freeze for about 2 million residents living in rent-stabilized apartments.
His support for diverse communities was highlighted by a fundraiser for the Asiyah Women’s Centre in Queens, an organization supporting Muslim women victims of domestic violence.
Queens was noted as the city's linguistically diverse capital, home to up to 800 languages spoken.
The article frames Mamdani as an advancing force for social justice, challenging nationalism, and reshaping the narrative of Muslim identity in American politics.
Author Mona Eltahawy, reflecting on her 23 years as a New Yorker and experiences with Islamophobia, connected her sense of belonging to Mamdani’s political rise.
Mamdani’s stance on marijuana legalization was also noted, including his remark about having legally purchased marijuana at a cannabis shop.
