Overview
- New York State Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath just after midnight at the Old City Hall subway station, with a larger public ceremony scheduled later today featuring Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- Mamdani’s platform prioritizes cost-of-living relief, including universal childcare, free buses, state-run grocery stores, a rent freeze and a plan for 200,000 affordable homes over ten years.
- He proposes raising taxes on high earners and corporations to finance these programs, a plan that needs approval from the governor and state legislature, with Governor Kathy Hochul signaling support for universal childcare.
- Seeking to reassure moderates, he is retaining NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch as part of his early staffing decisions.
- His transition drew scrutiny after a senior appointee withdrew over past social media posts, and he has faced criticism within his party over his DSA membership and his stance on the Gaza war.