Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who upset establishment favorites to win November’s mayoral election, was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor shortly after midnight on Jan. 1, 2026.
The private ceremony took place in the decommissioned Old City Hall subway station, a beaux-arts gem shuttered since 1945, underscoring the new mayor’s emphasis on public transit as central to the city’s future. New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath, with Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, holding two Qurans—one from his grandfather and another historic volume from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center. Mamdani became the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor.
Following tradition, Mamdani paid a ceremonial $9 fee to the city clerk and signed the official register.
In brief remarks, the new mayor called the role “the honor and privilege of a lifetime” and highlighted the venue as a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, health and legacy of our city.”
As his first official act, Mr. Mamdani announced the appointment of Mike Flynn, a veteran transportation planner and former Department of Transportation official, as commissioner of the city’s DOT. Mr. Flynn, who previously spent nearly a decade at the agency before entering private consulting, pledged to pursue an “ambitious agenda” to improve streets and transit, aligning with Mamdani’s campaign promises to enhance bus service and make the system more efficient.
The midnight swearing-in preceded a larger public inauguration later on Jan. 1, featuring a ceremonial oath by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and a block party outside City Hall.
Mamdani’s victory in 2025 marked a shift toward progressive policies focused on affordability, including proposals for free buses, universal child care and rent freezes on stabilized units. His administration will face challenges in implementing these amid budgetary constraints and the need for state approval on key measures.
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams attended the ceremony, signaling a peaceful transition.
Sources: Big New York news BigNY.com , Midtown Tribune news
