Zohran Mamdani Is Sworn In as New York City Mayor, Launching an Affordability Agenda

Overview

• Zohran Mamdani took a private oath just after midnight at the Old City Hall subway station administered by Attorney General Letitia James, with a 1 p.m. public ceremony at City Hall where Sen. Bernie Sanders will swear him in after an introduction by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
• Mamdani’s platform centers on free buses, universal childcare, a rent freeze on regulated apartments, city-run grocery stores, a $30 minimum wage and major affordable housing construction.
• Key planks need state approval or cooperation with agencies such as the MTA, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has indicated openness to universal childcare while resisting broad tax hikes sought to fund the agenda.
• A New School report released on his first day projects rising inequality from federal policy changes, including about 350,000 low-income residents at risk of losing Essential Plan coverage and up to 230,000 losing SNAP benefits.
• Republicans are elevating Mamdani as a national symbol of the Democratic left as his transition blends retained veterans like NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch with turbulence including a senior appointee’s withdrawal over past social media posts.