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Zohran Mamdani Sworn In as New York City Mayor After Midnight Subway Oath

The city’s first Muslim mayor signals an affordability-first agenda bounded by fiscal limits, with key steps dependent on Albany.

Overview

  • Just after midnight, Attorney General Letitia James administered a private oath at the Old City Hall subway station, where Mamdani swore on two Qurans including a family copy and a historic volume from the New York Public Library.
  • A public ceremony at City Hall is set for 1 p.m., with Senator Bernie Sanders administering a ceremonial oath, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participating, and a Broadway block party enabling large public viewing.
  • At 34, Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the first of South Asian origin after winning on a message focused on affordability.
  • He named Michael Flynn as transportation commissioner, underscoring priorities like free bus service, safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists, and stronger transit.
  • Signature proposals include a rent freeze for rent‑stabilized units and universal childcare, though multi‑billion‑dollar costs, state approval requirements, and a rent board shaped by late Eric Adams appointees could slow action.