Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Pronunciation errors may occur. We work with our partners to continually review and improve results.
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City shortly after midnight on Thursday, taking the oath of office in a historic, disused Manhattan subway station.
Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of the largest city in the United States, placing his hand on a Quran as he took the oath.
“This is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said in a brief speech.
The private ceremony, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally, took place at the old City Hall Station, one of the city’s first subway stations, known for its stunning vaulted ceilings.
In his first remarks as mayor, Mamdani said the old subway station was a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, health and legacy of our city” as he announced the appointment of his new Department of Transportation commissioner, Mike Flynn.
WATCH | What to expect from Mamdani in 2026:
Zohran Mamdani is about to begin his first full year as mayor of New York. Many New Yorkers are excited about the changes he has promised to bring to the city, but others are skeptical of his brand of socialism.
The new mayor then finished by saying: “Thank you all very much, now I will see you later,” before walking up a flight of stairs.
Mamdani will be sworn in again, in grander style, in a public ceremony at New York City Hall at 1 p.m. ET by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the mayor’s political heroes. That will be followed by what his office is billing as a public block party on a stretch of Broadway known as “Canyon of Heroes,” famous for its ticker tape parades.
