Zohran Mamdani takes oath as NYC’s first Muslim mayor

Democrat Zohran Mamdani takes oath as NYC mayor, marking history with a Quran and outlining an affordability-focused agenda

PGurus Newsdesk

January 1, 2026

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani sworn in at subway station

Oath taken on Quran at decommissioned City Hall subway station

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the Mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday in a symbolic ceremony held at a decommissioned subway station in Manhattan, becoming the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city.

Mamdani, a Democrat, took the oath of office at the historic City Hall subway station, one of New York’s original underground stops known for its ornate arched ceilings. Placing his hand on a Quran, Mamdani marked a historic moment not only for the city but also for the country.

“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said after being sworn in, according to the Associated Press.

In his first address as mayor, Mamdani said the choice of venue reflected the central role of public transit in New York’s identity. The old subway station, he said, stands as a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of the city.”

During the ceremony, Mamdani announced the appointment of Mike Flynn as the city’s new Transportation Commissioner, signalling an early focus on mobility and infrastructure. He later thanked those present before exiting the station via a staircase, smiling as the brief ceremony concluded.

A second, larger swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for later on Thursday at City Hall, where Mamdani will be administered the oath by US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of his long-time political inspirations. The event will be followed by a public block party along Broadway’s famed “Canyon of Heroes.”

Mamdani has made history on multiple fronts, becoming New York’s first Muslim mayor, its first mayor of South Asian descent, and the first to be born in Africa.

His election campaign centred on affordability and cost-of-living relief, with proposals including free childcare, fare-free buses, and a rent freeze for nearly one million households living in rent-stabilised apartments.

In the coming days, Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, are expected to move from their one-bedroom, rent-stabilised apartment into the official mayoral residence in Manhattan, marking a new chapter both personally and politically.

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