In a historic midnight ceremony at a forgotten subway station, Zohran Mamdani became New York City's 111th mayor and its first Muslim leader, symbolically bridging past and future with a vision of progressive urban renewal.

New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath to Mamdani in an intimate gathering, with supporters counting down the final moments of transition. Using two meaningful Qurans — one belonging to his grandfather and another historic text from the Schomburg Center dating back to Ottoman Syria in the 1800s — Mamdani transformed a simple swearing-in into a powerful cultural moment.

Speaking at the old City Hall IRT subway station, which closed in 1945, Mamdani emphasized the symbolic importance of public infrastructure. 'This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,' he declared, positioning public transit as a critical element of urban vitality and community connection.

Later Thursday, Mamdani planned a larger inauguration ceremony and block party, with Senator Bernie Sanders set to administer a public oath. 'We wanted to ensure that as we celebrated the beginning of our administration, it was a celebration... for everyone,' Mamdani explained, underscoring his commitment to inclusive governance.

The new mayor enters office with an ambitious agenda focused on affordability, including universal free childcare, a free bus system, and rent freezes for certain city units. His proposed funding mechanism involves raising taxes on individuals earning over $1 million, though this will require approval from state legislative leaders.

Mamdani expressed confidence in his administration's readiness, telling reporters, 'We will have the people in place necessary to start to deliver, not only on our affordability agenda, but frankly, to deliver on the day-to-day services that New Yorkers require.' His first major political test will come on January 7 during New York's 2026 state legislative session in Albany.

Governor Kathy Hochul has signaled potential openness to alternative revenue streams, stating, 'It is my job as governor to make sure that whomever the mayor is, they're successful.' This suggests potential collaborative pathways for Mamdani's progressive policy goals.