First Muslim mayor sworn in at closed 1904 station symbolizing transit ambitions
Zohran Mamdani became New York City’s 112th mayor just after midnight on New Year’s Day 2026, sworn in at an abandoned subway station below City Hall in a ceremony rich with historical symbolism. The private midnight swearing-in, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, preceded a massive public inauguration later that day attended by tens of thousands of supporters with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders administering the oath on City Hall steps. Mamdani, age 34, made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor, and first African-born mayor, becoming the youngest mayor in over a century.
Why the Subway Station Mattered
Mamdani chose the original City Hall station, one of New York’s 28 original stops opened in 1904, specifically because it represented an era when New York dared build grand infrastructure transforming working people’s lives. The ornate station features tiled arched ceilings, colored glass skylights, and brass chandeliers. Closed to the public since 1945, the station symbolized both past civic ambition and future possibility. The venue choice telegraphed Mamdani’s commitment to reviving ambitious infrastructure projects. He took the oath placing his hand on two Qurans, one belonging to his family and another from the New York Public Library’s collection previously owned by scholar Arturo Schomburg.
A Historic First
The use of the Quran marked the first time this holy text was used in a New York City mayoral inauguration, making the moment historic for American politics broadly. Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and became an American citizen in 2018 after his family immigrated when he was seven years old. Growing up in post-9/11 New York, he witnessed firsthand the challenges Muslim communities faced.
Building the Administration
Mamdani announced key cabinet positions before taking office, including transportation commissioner Mike Flynn, a veteran of the Department of Transportation who has guided major capital improvement projects. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels brings decades of education expertise. The mayor appointed Sam Levine, former FTC director, as commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, signaling aggressive enforcement on labor and consumer issues.
Taking Office Amid Challenges
Mamdani takes office amid significant challenges, including an affordability crisis where typical household rent exceeds fifty percent of income. The mayor faces skepticism from some quarters over his criticisms of Israel’s government policies. He also confronts a federal government controlled by Republicans cutting funding to social programs and threatening to withhold transit dollars. However, Mamdani entered office with genuine political momentum, winning the highest vote share for any NYC mayoral candidate in sixty years according to New York election officials.
The Path Forward
The first weeks of his administration have demonstrated commitment to swift action on campaign promises. Mamdani signed executive orders on junk fees and subscription traps, launched enforcement action against exploitative delivery platforms, and began implementing childcare expansion announced with Governor Hochul. The mayor’s symbolic choice to take his oath in the historic subway station below City Hall suggests revival of New York’s infrastructure ambitions will be central to his governing agenda. His campaign built an unprecedented grassroots organization that mobilized working-class voters across all five boroughs. The symbolic use of the historic subway station for the midnight swearing-in telegraphed an administration committed to reimagining New York’s public infrastructure and investing in the systems that serve ordinary New Yorkers. Recent analysis shows that MTA investments require sustained funding and state level support while federal transit agencies provide additional framework for state budget planning.
