NEW YORK: In a historic moment shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day 2026, 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the mayor of New York City, marking the end of a remarkable political ascent that saw him defeat a long-standing Democratic dynasty and even earn praise from President Donald Trump during a White House visit.
Accompanied by his family, Mamdani took the oath administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James beneath the elegant Spanish-tiled vaults of the historic former City Hall subway station in Lower Manhattan, a landmarked gem no longer in use.
The former Queens state assemblyman now becomes the 112th mayor of the city, and notably the first Muslim and the first individual of South Asian heritage to head America’s most populous metropolis, a global hub for finance, culture, and commerce.
This private underground swearing-in sets the stage for a grand public ceremony and an expansive street festival later in the day.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a fellow democratic socialist and Brooklyn native, is scheduled to administer the ceremonial oath to Mamdani on the steps outside City Hall.
The inaugural events are expected to draw massive crowds, with tens of thousands of New Yorkers lining the streets to celebrate.
Mamdani’s team has emphasized making the occasion more accessible to the public compared to past events limited to a few thousand invited attendees.
“This inauguration represents the grassroots movement we created, the strong voter support we earned, and the vision we have for leading this great city,” Mamdani stated.
He succeeds Eric Adams, a moderate Democrat whose single term was overshadowed by controversies and who departed office at its conclusion.
By contrast, four years earlier, Adams had marked his own entry into office with a prominent midnight ceremony in the bustling heart of Times Square right after the iconic New Year’s ball drop.
