New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has vowed to run the city “broadly and boldly” after his historic inauguration.
The democratic socialist became the Big Apple’s first Muslim mayor after being sworn in at midnight at the Old City Hall subway stop, which is accessible via guided tours only a few times a year.
He is also the first person of South Asian descent born in Uganda and the first person of African descent to become mayor of the city.
Attorney General Letitia James (left) administers the oath as Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, looks on. Photo: AP
Later at a grand opening ceremony at City Hall, he declared, “From today on, we will govern expansively and boldly. We may sometimes fail, but we will always try courageously.
He pointed to an era of “big government” for the city, saying that his administration “will not hesitate to use its power to improve the lives of New Yorkers”.
He said, “I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.”
At the second event he was sworn in by Senator Bernie Sanders – Mr Mamdani’s hero who has become the Democrats’ nominee for president.
Mamdani sworn in as NYC mayor by Bernie Sanders
Mr Mamdani, a 34-year-old former state Assembly member,
came to office late last year largely on a platform of capping fares and making buses free to tackle the rising cost of living.
He inspired a record-breaking turnout of more than two million voters, taking 50% of the vote, nearly 10 points ahead of former Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was running as an independent.
As America’s most populous city, New York has approximately eight million residents.
Thousands of people braved the cold to watch the inauguration ceremony at City Hall.
Photos: Reuters
Mr Mamdani immediately took steps to rescind several executive orders issued by the previous administration.
He cancelled all those issued after September 26, 2024 – the date federal officials announced that then-Mayor Eric Adams was being charged with corruption, which were later dismissed after Donald Trump intervened.
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Mr Mamdani will move from his one-bedroom Astoria to Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City mayors, on the Upper East Side.
He is not the city’s first mayor to be associated with democratic socialism, although David Dinkins did not have much involvement with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) during his 1990–1993 tenure.
