New York’s New Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani was sworn in twice on New Years Day, Thursday January 1st, 2026. His first private swearing ceremony was at a decommissioned subway station below City Hall just after midnight, placing his hand on a Quran as he took his oath as the city’s first Muslim mayor.
The oath was given by New York’s Attorney General Latitia James.
“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said following the brief, private ceremony.
After working part of the night in his new office, Mamdani then returned to City Hall in a taxicab around midday Thursday for a grander public inauguration held outside City Hall where US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the mayor’s political heroes, administered the oath for a second time.
The proceedings opening remarks were given by New York’s 7th year serving congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Also sworn in were New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and New York City Comptroller Mark Levine.
Over 4000 invited guests attended City Hall’s inauguration. However, many more thousands New Yorkers turned out in the frigid cold for an inauguration viewing party just south of City Hall on a stretch of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” famous for its ticker-tape parades.
There were blocks of parties in nearby areas where many others were viewing on several big screens.
New York city is in good hands. But we all have a vital participatory role to play, to ensure that all New Yorkers win as Mamdani wins.
And As A Footnote:
John Purroy Mitchel was 34 years old when he was elected mayor of New York City.
New York City Has Not Elected a Mayor This Young in More Than a Century.
John Purroy Mitchel, known as the “Boy Mayor,” was three months older than
Zohran Mamdani is now when he won office in 1913.
Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, was born on October 18, 1991, making him just 34 years old.
His wife Rama Sawaf Duwaji was born on June 30, 1997, making her only 28 years old.