Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City shortly after midnight in a private ceremony held at the disused Old City Hall subway station, marking the start of a day of celebrations that will include a public swearing-in and a block party outside City Hall.
The 34-year-old was sworn into office by New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, in the presence of close family members, including his wife, Rama Duwaji, his mother, the film-maker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, a professor of African studies at Columbia University.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said after taking the oath. “I cannot wait to see everyone tomorrow as we begin our term.”
He said the choice of location reflected the importance of public transport to the city’s future, describing the old subway station as a symbol of New York’s vitality and legacy.
During the ceremony, Mamdani announced the appointment of Mike Flynn, a veteran city planner, as the new transportation commissioner. The mayor said he wanted to make New York’s public transport system “the envy of the world”. Flynn described the role as “the job of a lifetime”.
The outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, also attended. He had earlier been non-committal about his presence but later said he wanted to demonstrate a smooth and peaceful transition of power.
In keeping with his Muslim faith, Mamdani was sworn in using a Qur’an, becoming the first mayor of New York City to do so. He placed his hand on a Qur’an that belonged to his grandfather, as well as one owned by the Black writer and historian Arturo Schomburg, which was lent by the New York Public Library.
The ceremony was attended by members of Mamdani’s inaugural committee, including actor John Turturro, playwright Cole Escola and author Colson Whitehead, alongside campaign workers, advocates and small business owners.
A larger public ceremony is scheduled for 1pm, where Mamdani will be introduced by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and sworn in by senator Bernie Sanders.
Mamdani’s office said the decision to hold the initial ceremony at the old City Hall station reflected his commitment to working people. The station opened in 1904 and was one of the city’s original subway stops.
The inauguration follows a rapid political rise for Mamdani, who represents the Democratic Socialist movement while running as a Democrat. Earlier in the year, he defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary after a campaign that gained momentum through social media and grassroots organising.
In April, Mamdani had been trailing Cuomo heavily in polls, but support shifted as his campaign focused on affordability, rent freezes, free public transport and city-run grocery stores. His campaign also proposed the creation of a department of community safety to expand mental health services.
In November, Mamdani won the mayoral election with 50.78% of the vote, defeating Republican activist Curtis Sliwa and Cuomo, who ran as an independent. In his victory speech, he pledged to govern on behalf of working New Yorkers who had long been excluded from power.
“New York, this power, it’s yours,” he said. “This city belongs to you.”
