JANAURY 2, 2026
New York Attorney General Letitia James, left, administers the oath of office to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, center, as his wife Rama Duwaji looks on, on January 1, 2026.
Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated mayor of New York City on January 1, becoming the first Muslim and Asian American to lead the Big Apple and the youngest person to hold the post since 1892.
The 34-year-old Democratic socialist promised a “new era” for New York City, vowing to govern “audaciously” and not back down from the promises that made his electoral campaign so popular and impactful, including freezing the rent, making buses in the city free, and introducing universal child care.
Why It Matters
Mamdani’s ascent from little-known assemblymember to rising star of his own party has made him the symbol of a potential comeback for the Democratic Party, which is hoping to gain ground back from the GOP at this year’s midterms.
The newly minted mayor did not enjoy his party’s unanimous support during his campaign, but his sweeping victory in November has proven a wake-up call for Democrats across the country.
Mamdani’s every action is expected to be closely scrutinized by Democrats and Republicans alike in the coming months and years, as the mayor has promised to challenge established norms and “reinvent” New York City.
What To Know
On day one of his mandate, Mamdani seemed to draw a clean line between himself and his predecessor, Eric Adams, revoking all executive orders issued after September 26, 2024, when Adams was charged with bribery and fraud. The criminal case against him was later dismissed by a federal judge under the direction of President Donald Trump.
At a press conference on Thursday, Mamdani said that all executive orders passed by Adams after that date were “against the interests of working class people.”
His second executive order, issued on the same day, established that the city should have five deputy mayors. One would be the First Deputy Mayor; one the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning; one the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice; one the Deputy Mayor for Operations; and another the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.
Their roles and responsibilities are described in detail in the order. All deputy mayors respond directly to Mamdani.
The same order also established a Chief of Staff, a Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall, and a Director of Communications, and retained the Office to Combat Antisemitism created by Adams.
On his first day in office, Mamdani also announced three housing-related executive orders, keeping his promise to tackle the city’s housing affordability crisis.
“Today, on the day when so many rent payments are due, we will not wait to deliver action,” he said on Thursday.
The first executive order revived the mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and announced that Cea Weaver, a nationally recognized tenant organizer and housing advocate, would be the office’s new director.
The second created the new LIFT task force, which stands for land inventory fast-track, “to leverage city-owned land and accelerate development,” Mamdani said.
The third created the SPEED (streamlining procedures to expedite equitable development) task force.
“These are sweeping measures,” Mamdani said. “But it is just the beginning of a comprehensive effort to champion the cause of tenants too long ignored and homes too expensive.”
His administration, Mamdani said on Thursday, “will not wait to deliver action” and “will stand up on behalf of the tenants of this city.”
What People Are Saying
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Thursday: “The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
He added, “I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being called radical.”
Cea Weaver said in a statement on Thursday: “I am humbled and honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s administration — and to stand with him on his very first day in office as he makes clear where his priorities lie: with the millions of tenants in New York City who have been mistreated for too long by negligent landlords.
“Our work will only grow and this newly revitalized office marks a new era of standing up for tenants and fighting for safe, stable, and affordable homes.”
What Happens Next
Mamdani has promised to govern “expansively and audaciously” and try to keep his campaign promises, which many have questioned, for months now, whether he even has the power to implement them, such as freezing rent.
The mayor has admitted his administration “may not always succeed” in keeping his goals, “but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try,” he said on Thursday.
Courtesy/Source: Newsweek
