In a ceremony rich with symbolism, Zohran Mamdani became the 112th mayor of New York City at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day, 2026. The 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblyman made history as the city's first Muslim mayor and its second-youngest leader ever.
A Midnight Oath in a Historic Setting
The swearing-in took place not in City Hall, but in the abandoned City Hall subway station below it. New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath of office as Mamdani placed his hand on a Quran. His wife, artist Rama Duwaji, stood by his side during the ceremony, which was reported by the New York Post.
Mamdani called the moment "the honour and the privilege of a lifetime" and wished New Yorkers a happy new year. In a nod to civic history, he noted the station first opened in 1904 as a monument to a city that dared to build great public works. "That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past," he stated, framing it as the purpose of his new administration.
In a uniquely bureaucratic detail, the new mayor was required to pay a $9 administrative fee before taking the oath.
Immediate Action and an Ambitious Agenda
Mamdani's first official act was to appoint Mike Flynn as his Commissioner of the Department of Transportation. Flynn brings over two decades of experience in New York City transportation systems. Mamdani praised Flynn's understanding of how street design and public transit are crucial to making the city affordable and safe.
The mayor enters office with a sweeping, progressive agenda focused on affordability, funded by new taxes on the wealthy. His key campaign promises include:
- A rent freeze for all stabilized tenants and a push to build more affordable housing.
- Creating a network of city-owned grocery stores to combat high food costs.
- Making bus rides free citywide and creating priority bus lanes.
- Investing in mental health and crisis response units to allow police to focus on criminal investigations.
Funding the Vision: Taxes on Wealth and Corporations
The ambitious plans come with a significant price tag. Mamdani has proposed specific revenue measures to fund his platform:
He plans to raise the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey's 11.5%, a move he estimates would generate an additional $5 billion for the city. Furthermore, he has promised a flat 2% tax on residents earning over $1 million annually, targeting the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers.
His administration also intends to hire more tax auditors and increase enforcement against what he terms "corrupt landlords" to collect outstanding fines.
As the young, left-wing mayor begins his term, all eyes will be on how he navigates the challenges of governing North America's largest city and implements his transformative—and costly—vision for New York's future.
