ZOHRAN MAMDANI: AN INAUGURATION OF A ‘NEW ERA’

Editorial Assistant Maryam Bokhari covers the inauguration and progressive platform of freshly-appointed Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani

“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously” - Zohran Mamdani [4]

January 1 2026 marks a historic milestone for New York City, as Democratic-Socialist state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani was officially inaugurated as the city’s first immigrant and Muslim mayor. Mamdani is also the second-youngest person to hold the office, and the first to use a Quran during his swearing-in ceremony [1].

The initial private ceremony was held in a decommissioned subway station under Times Square. Mamdani had taken his oath upon his grandfather’s Quran and another 200-year-old manuscript on loan from the New York Public Library (NYPL) [2]. This Quran, originating from Ottoman Syria, was once in the possession of Black writer and historian Arturo Schomburg, whose extensive collection was sold to the NYPL in 1926 under the Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture [3]. Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran is not only commended for its relationship to a renowned scholar but also for its symbolic accessibility to the everyday reader. Described as a “Quran close to the people”, the copy is modestly bound and colour-coded, representing a “greater story of inclusion, representation, and civic-mindedness” [3].

Later that day, the public swearing-in event was held at City Hall, attended by tens of thousands of New Yorkers. The 34-year-old mayor was accompanied by his parents and his wife, Rama Duwaji, and was sworn in by Senator Bernie Sanders, this time with Mamdani’s hand on his grandparents’ two Qurans. In his address, Mamdani reaffirmed that he would not “abandon [his] principles for fear of being deemed radical”, pledging to continue governing as a democratic socialist. Mamdani reiterated his campaign’s vision to transform New York City through the principles of “safety, affordability, and abundance” through a “government that looks and lives like the people it represents” [4].

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding his victory, Mamdani has faced significant scrutiny due to his criticism of federal immigration enforcement, the New York Police Department, the Trump administration, and Israel committing genocide in Gaza. He has also experienced racist and Islamophobic discrimination throughout his campaign. Additionally, Mamdani has received scepticism regarding his relative lack of traditional political experience and the feasibility of his ambitious proposals. Regardless, his message had deeply resonated in a city experiencing increased concern for public safety and affordability, earning him the majority vote in the primary and general elections held in 2025 [1]. His viral digital presence, musical and activist background, grassroots organising, and magnetic ability to connect authentically and earnestly with NYC residents helped propel him into the international spotlight. 

What is Mamdani's policy agenda?

• “Freeze the rent” and build affordable housing

• Establish a Department of Community Safety and invest in mental health programs

• Implement fast and free buses and city-owned grocery stores

• Implement free childcare and increase public school funding

According to his revenue plan, these initiatives would be funded by raising corporate tax rates and increasing taxes on the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers earning above $1 million annually [5].

Mamdani’s success lies in his unequivocal commitment to celebrating and centering the everyday routines and needs of NYC’s working class, culture and character. His inauguration reflects the broader American constituency’s eagerness for transformative and fresh leadership and stimulates an atmosphere of curiosity for the future of New York City’s politics. All eyes are now fixed upon the young mayor—will he be able to make a difference?

by Maryam Bokhari

References:

[1‌] Helmore, E. (2026, January 2). Mamdani pledges “new era” for New York and vows to govern “audaciously.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/01/zohran-mamdani-inauguration-speech

[2] King, M. (2025, December 31). Mamdani Is First New York Mayor to Use the Quran at His Swearing-In. The New York Times. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/nyregion/mamdani-quran-inauguration-muslim.html‌

[3] Schomburg Center & NYPL Staff. (2025, December 31). Schomburg Center Qur’an Selected for Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s Inauguration. https://www.nypl.org/blog/2025/12/31/schomburg-center-quran-selected-mayor-elect-mamdanis-inauguration

[4] The. (2026, January 1). The Full Transcript of Zohran Mamdani’s Inauguration Speech. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/nyregion/mamdani-inauguration-speech-transcript.html?smid=url-share

[5] Zohran for NYC. (2025). Zohranfornyc.com. https://www.zohranfornyc.com/platform