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Zohran Mamdani sworn in with Quran as New York’s first Muslim mayor
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in early Thursday as mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor and one of the youngest leaders in generations
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NEW YORK (MNTV) — Zohran Mamdani was sworn in early Thursday as mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor and one of the youngest leaders in generations to take charge of the United States’ largest city.
The 34-year-old Democrat took the oath of office just after midnight at a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall, a symbolic venue his office said reflected his commitment to working-class New Yorkers.
The low-key ceremony formally marked the start of his four-year term.
According to NBC News, Mamdani placed his hand on two copies of the Holy Quran while taking the oath — one that belonged to his grandfather and another from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
“Happy New Year to New Yorkers, both inside this tunnel and above,” Mamdani said in brief remarks. Calling the moment “an honour and a privilege of a lifetime,” he described the historic station as a testament to the importance of public transit to the city’s vitality, health, and legacy.
The private swearing-in was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, was present, along with his parents — filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani — according to CNN.
A larger, ceremonial inauguration is scheduled later Thursday outside City Hall, where Mamdani is expected to be sworn in again before thousands of attendees.
The event will feature speeches by left-wing allies, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. His team has also organized a public block party along Broadway, with large viewing areas planned for tens of thousands of residents.
Under New York law, mayoral terms begin on January 1 following an election. To avoid any uncertainty over authority, the city traditionally holds a brief swearing-in shortly after midnight.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, to a family of Indian origin, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven and later became a U.S. citizen.
He entered politics relatively recently, winning a New York State Assembly seat before launching a successful mayoral campaign centered on affordability.
Mamdani has pledged policies including a rent freeze, free buses, and expanded childcare, arguing that New York’s cost-of-living crisis requires bold intervention.
His election followed a record-breaking turnout of more than two million voters, with Mamdani securing about 50 percent of the vote, nearly 10 points ahead of former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent.
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