New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s four-year term leading the nation’s largest city began Thursday with a seven-block long street party and guest appearances at his inaugural ceremony from the leading lights of the left.
On a freezing New Year’s Day, the 34-year-old democratic socialist was sworn on the steps of City Hall by Sen. Bernie Sanders after an introduction by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
"Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously," Mamdani said. "We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try to those who insist that the era of big government is over."
"I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist," he said.
Mamdani is the 112th person, but the first Muslim and the first person of South Asian descent, to lead the nation's largest city.
In 2025, Mamdani stunned political establishment by defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo first in the Democratic primary and again in the November general election. He ran on a progressive platform to address affordability, reshaping a mayor’s race that resonated even in the White House with Republican President Donald Trump.