Mamdani sworn in as NYC's 112th mayor in midnight ceremony beneath City Hall

Evan Simko-Bednarski and Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News on Jan 1, 2026

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NEW YORK — In a subterranean ceremony shortly after midnight Wednesday, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor, becoming the first Muslim and, at 34, the youngest man in modern memory to lead the five boroughs.

The private ceremony was held inside the abandoned subway station beneath City Hall — the crown jewel of the first subway line to open in the city, and a location the democratic socialist mayor selected because he said it symbolizes his policy aspirations.

“After just having taken my oath to become the mayor of the City of New York, I do so, also, here in the old City Hall subway station, a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, the legacy of our city,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitila James, a key campaign surrogate for Mamdani, administered the oath of office, as Mamdani had his hand planted on a Qur’an from the 19th century.

“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” said Mamdani, who was joined by his wife, illustrator Rama Duwaji, and his parents, Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair.

Mamdani is slated to be inaugurated with more pomp and circumstance during a ceremony on the steps of City Hall in front of thousands of supporters Thursday afternoon. Thousands more are expected to cram the streets around City Hall for what Mamdani’s team has dubbed a public “block party.” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a fellow democratic socialist and a major inspiration for Mamdani, was expected to swear in the mayor at the afternoon ceremony.

Mamdani used the setting Thursday morning to announce his pick for city Transportation Commissioner — Mike Flynn, whose likely selection was first reported Wednesday afternoon by the Daily News.

“I can think of no better moment to announce our new Department of Transportation Commissioner than this,” he added, calling Flynn to the station steps. “We embark on an administration that will take seriously the responsibility and the opportunity we have to make this streetscape and the public transit of the city we call home the envy of the world,” the mayor said.

After running a campaign centered on making the city more affordable, Mamdani is expected to face pressure to quickly deliver on his main promises to freeze rent for stabilized tenants, make public buses free and drastically expand fully subsidized childcare.

Mamdani’s childcare proposal appears likely to be an early priority, especially as Gov. Kathy Hochul has voiced public support for it. Questions remain, though, over how an expansion of free childcare will be funded.

Mamdani has proposed jacking up taxes on millionaires and corporations in order to raise billions of dollars in new revenue required to bankroll both his bus and childcare plans.

Hochul, who’s up for reelection this year, is opposed to a new tax on the wealthy, but hasn’t closed the door on putting increased levies on corporations doing business in New York. Tax rates are set by the state, meaning any increases will all but certainly need the support of the governor.

In addition to being the city’s first Muslim mayor, he’s also its first of South Asian descent, with his parents having immigrated to the U.S. after being born in India.

“He has led people ever since he could,” Nair, the mayor’s mother, told reporters. “But this was unimaginable, but, I think, quite beautiful. And I think, really, it’ll be the dawn of a new day.”

Mamdani takes over the reins at City Hall after Eric Adams’ first and only term as mayor was marred by a number of scandals, including his now-dismissed federal corruption indictment.

On his way out, Adams took several steps to try and stymie Mamdani’s agenda, including by making several appointments this month to the Rent Guidelines Board in an effort to at least temporarily block the incoming mayor’s pledge to freeze rents for the city’s 2 million stabilized tenants.

Mamdani has vowed he’ll still be able to enact a rent freeze for each of the four years of his first term. He hasn’t elaborated on how he’ll be able to do so despite Adams’ moves.

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