Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in on New Year's Day as New York City's first Muslim mayor, placing two family Qurans and a volume once owned by Arturo Schomburg on the lectern. A private midnight observance at Old City Hall Station will precede a public oath administered by Sen. Bernie Sanders on the City Hall steps, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez expected to speak. Mamdani’s progressive agenda and his pick for city attorney, Ramzi Kassem, have sparked public debate given Kassem’s past defense work. His activism on the Israel‑Gaza conflict and a 2023 protest arrest have also drawn attention ahead of the inauguration.
Historic Inauguration: Zohran Mamdani To Be Sworn In On Qurans As New York City's First Muslim Mayor
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates as he takes the stage at his election night watch party at the Brooklyn Paramount on November 4, 2025, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mamdani defeated Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the closely watched election for New York City mayor.
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will take a historic oath on New Year's Day, placing two family Qurans and a third volume that once belonged to Puerto Rican writer and activist Arturo Schomburg on the lectern during his inauguration.
Attorney General Letitia James will host a private, midnight observance at the decommissioned Old City Hall subway station, followed later that day by a public swearing-in on the steps of City Hall, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I‑Vt.) will administer the oath. Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (D‑N.Y.) is expected to deliver opening remarks at the public ceremony, which will be free and open to the public.
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani holds hands with his wife Rama Duwaji after they voted at a polling location at Frank Sinatra School of Arts in the Queens borough of New York City on Nov. 4, 2025.
Background and Election
Mamdani, a 34-year-old Ugandan-born progressive, won the November contest over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, campaigning on a platform focused on affordability and progressive policy proposals such as rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, and expanded free public services including buses and childcare.
Appointments and Controversy
On Tuesday, Mamdani announced his choice for the city's top attorney: Ramzi Kassem. Kassem has drawn scrutiny because he previously defended Ahmed al-Darbi, who was convicted on conspiracy charges related to a 2017 bombing of a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen and was later transferred to Saudi custody, and Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, whose case involving alleged antisemitic demonstrations is ongoing. Mamdani defended his pick, saying,
"I will turn to Ramzi for his remarkable experience and his commitment to defending those too often abandoned by our legal system."
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani supporters gather outside 30 Rock in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
Politics and Public Reaction
Mamdani's past activism and statements on the Israel‑Gaza conflict have attracted significant attention. He has described Israel’s military actions in Gaza as "genocide," rejected the characterization of Israel as a Jewish state, and has faced criticism for not disavowing the slogan "globalize the intifada." As a college student at Bowdoin, he founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑N.Y.) declined to endorse Mamdani during the campaign; observers have suggested Schumer’s refusal may have been related to Mamdani’s 2023 arrest while protesting outside Schumer’s Brooklyn residence.
What This Means For The City
The inauguration arrangements and Kassem’s appointment have prompted debate about Mamdani’s approach to governing a diverse, densely populated city with sizable Jewish and other communities. Supporters emphasize his focus on affordability and civil‑liberties credentials; critics raise concerns about rhetoric and the selection of advisers with controversial records.
Context: The use of Qurans at the swearing-in is historically significant for New York City and underscores the ceremony’s cultural as well as civic importance. The inclusion of Arturo Schomburg’s volume connects the event to the city’s broader history of Black and Latino intellectual and cultural preservation.
