Zohran Mamdani takes oath of office as New York's new mayor
- - Zohran Mamdani takes oath of office as New York's new mayor
Eduardo Cuevas and James Powel, USA TODAY December 31, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office as New York City mayor after midnight on New Year’s Day, after a once-improbable rise to power saw the 34-year-old democratic socialist crush a six-decade state political dynasty and charm an effusive President Donald Trump at the White House.
He called taking the office "the honor and a privilege of a lifetime" after signing the paperwork and paying a $9 filing fee − with exact change − to make it official.
Mamdani, surrounded by his family, was administered the oath by New York Attorney General Letitia James under the Spanish-tiled arches of a landmarked former subway station below City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
In brief remarks following his oath, Mamdani called the setting "a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, health and the legacy of our city." He also announced Mike Flynn as his Department of Transportation Commissioner.
Mamdani, a former state assemblyman from Queens, is the city’s 112th mayor, and the first Muslim and first person of South Asian descent to lead America's largest city and business and cultural capital.
He took the oath on the Quran, making him the first mayor of New York to do so, according to the New York Times. The Times reported Mamdani would use his grandfather’s Quran and one that belonged to Arturo Schomburg, the Black writer and historian for the two ceremonies.
The underground ceremony precedes his public inauguration and a massive block party in the afternoon. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Brooklyn native and fellow democratic socialist, is set to publicly swear in Mamdani outside of City Hall.
Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HyfFw2876Rziy32GjW2xLA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NzA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7d2087f9a3c2e1cb11cb446c7cc469ae class=caas-img data-headline="Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect" data-caption="
Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
">Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HyfFw2876Rziy32GjW2xLA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NzA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7d2087f9a3c2e1cb11cb446c7cc469ae class=caas-img>
Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P8QxhxenQKfoYav.4QNjYw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5082880536a4283e99462162733b6698 class=caas-img data-headline="Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect" data-caption="
Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
">Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P8QxhxenQKfoYav.4QNjYw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5082880536a4283e99462162733b6698 class=caas-img>
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VEaCMkKuKDz_vMGPVWFLpg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c5e6078878b851a55fb6f4edbf3995f3 class=caas-img data-headline="Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect" data-caption="
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.
">Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VEaCMkKuKDz_vMGPVWFLpg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c5e6078878b851a55fb6f4edbf3995f3 class=caas-img>
1 / 20Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-electNew York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.
Mamdani’s first day will be marked by tens of thousands of Gothamites expected to gather along city streets. His transition team said it would be more public than smaller swearing-in ceremonies, which typically were reserved for 4,000 ticketed guests.
“This inauguration is a celebration of the movement we built, the mandate we won, and the city we are prepared to lead,” Mamdani said.
Blocked freeze: NYC Mayor Eric Adams moves to prevent Zohran Mamdani's rent freeze
Mamdani takes over from centrist Democrat Eric Adams, the scandal-scarred former mayor who left office after one term.
Four years ago, Adams took his oath of office in a high-profile ceremony in a crowded Times Square just after the ball dropped to ring in 2022.
Campaign promises: Mamdani says he'll bring free child care to NYC. It's not easy, but is it possible?
Adams, 65, dropped his reelection bid amid corruption investigations targeting him and half a dozen top aides, and allegations of cozying up to the Trump administration − seen as a negative in the heavily Democratic city.
Mamdani won the recent Nov. 4 general election with more than a million votes, beating former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. His campaign upended local and national politics with an ambitious − critics say unfeasible − platform to tackle the cost of living through a rent freeze on a million city apartments, free buses, and free child care.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at [email protected] or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani sworn in as NYC mayor on New Year's Day
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