Zohran Mamdani Takes Oath as New York Mayor on Quran
Key Takeaways
- Zohran Mamdani is not the New York’s first Muslim mayor
- Oath administered on a Quran at historic City Hall subway station
- Public inauguration with Senator Bernie Sanders to follow
NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani officially became the mayor of New York City shortly after midnight Thursday in a historic ceremony that saw him take the oath of office with his hand on a Quran.
Sworn in at the city’s decommissioned City Hall subway station, Mamdani is the first Muslim, first person of South Asian descent, and the first African-born individual to lead America’s largest city.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani stated following the oath, which was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
A larger public inauguration is scheduled for 1 PM at City Hall, where U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a political hero of Mamdani’s, will administer a second oath.
At 34, Mamdani is the city’s youngest mayor in generations. A former community organizer and New York State Assemblyman representing Queens, he won the Democratic mayoral nomination in June 2025 and secured the general election in November.
His administration now faces the immense task of governing a city of over 8 million people, making him one of the most closely watched politicians in the United States.
