Zohran Kwame Mamdani was inaugurated as New York City's 112th mayor on January 1, 2026, achieving a historic milestone as the city's first Muslim mayor, first of South Asian descent, first born in Africa, and the youngest in over a century at age 34. The democratic socialist, who rose rapidly from state assemblyman, began his term with a private midnight oath in the abandoned City Hall subway station, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, before a larger public ceremony at City Hall steps that drew thousands in freezing temperatures.

The public inauguration featured Independent Senator Bernie Sanders administering the ceremonial oath, with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivering introductory remarks. Mamdani's parents, renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, attended alongside his wife Rama Duwaji and a diverse array of faith leaders, including Imam Khalid Latif who provided the invocation. Symbolically, Mamdani swore on Qurans, including one from the New York Public Library historically owned by Afro-Latino scholar Arturo Schomburg, emphasizing inclusivity.

In his approximately 24-minute inaugural address, Mamdani committed to governing "expansively and audaciously," pledging to demonstrate that left-wing policies can effectively address the city's severe affordability crisis. He outlined ambitious goals such as implementing rent freezes, establishing universal childcare, introducing free public buses, and increasing taxes on the wealthiest residents to fund these initiatives, while asserting that New York would set a global example for progressive governance amid supportive chants of "tax the rich."

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Mamdani expressed gratitude toward predecessor Eric Adams with a light-hearted remark and underscored his role as mayor for all New Yorkers, including Trump supporters who voted for him. He reiterated commitments to protect immigrant communities against potential federal policies and highlighted ongoing dialogues with business leaders, despite earlier predictions of economic fallout from his election victory over figures like Andrew Cuomo.

The day culminated in a vibrant "Inauguration of a New Era" block party spanning seven blocks in lower Manhattan, attracting an estimated 40,000 attendees despite the cold, with former Mayor Bill de Blasio among the guests. Mamdani's swift actions, including signing executive orders on housing and tenant protections, signaled the start of a transformative progressive administration in America's largest city.

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