- Zohran Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor and first mayor of South Asian descent
- Midnight swearing-in held at the historic, decommissioned City Hall subway station
- Took oath on the Quran, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James
- At 34, Mamdani is the youngest mayor New York has had in generations
- Ran on a democratic socialist platform focused on affordability and cost-of-living relief
Zohran Mamdani officially became mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday (1), marking a historic moment for Indian Americans, South Asian communities, and immigrants across the United States. The Democrat was sworn in during an intimate ceremony at the old City Hall subway station in Manhattan, one of the city’s original and most architecturally striking transit sites.
Administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally, the oath was notable not only for its setting but also for its symbolism. Mamdani placed his hand on the Quran, becoming the first Muslim to lead America’s largest city. His wife, artist Rama Duwaji, stood beside him during the ceremony.
“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said following the oath.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of internationally acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and renowned academic Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved to New York City when he was seven years old. Growing up in a post-9/11 America, Mamdani has often spoken about the challenges faced by Muslim and South Asian communities, experiences that helped shape his political worldview. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
At 34, Mamdani is also the youngest New York City mayor in generations, as well as the first mayor born in Africa. His rise from community organizer to state assemblyman in Queens, and now to City Hall, has made him one of the most closely watched progressive politicians in the country.
Later on Thursday (1), Mamdani is scheduled to be sworn in again during a larger public ceremony at City Hall, administered by US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of his political inspirations. The day’s events will conclude with a public block party along Broadway’s famed “Canyon of Heroes.”
Mamdani campaigned as a democratic socialist with a strong focus on affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities. His platform included proposals such as free child care, fare-free buses, a rent freeze for roughly one million apartments, and a pilot program for city-run grocery stores.
He inherits a city showing signs of recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, with crime rates down, tourism rebounding, and unemployment back to pre-pandemic levels. Still, rising rents and high living costs remain major concerns.
Mamdani will also need to navigate a complex relationship with Republican President Donald Trump. Although Trump previously threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won, the two later met cordially at the White House. Despite that, policy clashes, especially on immigrationare expected.
As he moves from a rent-stabilized Queens apartment to the mayoral residence in Manhattan, Mamdani begins one of the toughest jobs in American politics, carrying the hopes of many who see his victory as a milestone for Indian Americans and progressive politics nationwide.
