Zohran Mamdani Makes History as New York City’s First Muslim Mayor: Inauguration Highlights and Public Reactions

In the early hours of New Year’s Day 2026, history was quietly made beneath Manhattan’s bustling streets. Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democrat, was sworn in as New York City’s mayor at the Old City Hall Station—a now-silent subway stop with arched ceilings that once symbolized the city’s growing heartbeat. But this wasn’t just another inauguration. Mamdani’s oath marked a cascade of firsts: the first Muslim, the first South Asian, and the first African-born individual to ever hold the city’s top office.

The private midnight ceremony, administered by Attorney General Letitia James, set the tone for an administration focused on both symbolism and substance. Surrounded by his family, Mamdani placed his hand on two Qurans: one belonged to his grandfather, the other—a centuries-old pocket-sized Quran from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—carried a history as layered as the city itself.

“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani told the small crowd, his words echoing against the tiled walls. The location was no accident. Mamdani described the station as a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, and the legacy of our city.” Moments later, he announced his first appointment: Mike Flynn as the new Department of Transportation commissioner, a nod to the campaign’s central theme of affordability and public service.

While New York’s mayors have traditionally sworn the oath on a Bible, Mamdani’s choice of the Quran—and particularly the historic manuscript from the Schomburg collection—was a deliberate message. As curator Hiba Abid explained, “The importance of this Quran lies not in luxury, but in accessibility.” The book’s plain script and modest red binding signaled its everyday use, bridging ordinary readers with the extraordinary moment unfolding in the city’s history.

The manuscript’s journey—from the Ottoman period, passing through the hands of historian Arturo Schomburg, to its place in Mamdani’s inauguration—mirrors the mayor’s own migration story. Born in Uganda to South Asian parents and married to Rama Duwaji, an American-Syrian, Mamdani’s rise has been propelled by New York’s ever-changing demographic currents. His campaign, rooted in issues of affordability and inclusivity, drew support from first-time South Asian and Muslim voters, many of whom saw themselves reflected in his candidacy for the first time.

As crowds began to gather for the public swearing-in on City Hall’s steps later that day, the mood was both celebratory and cautious. Police barricades lined Broadway near Fulton Street; the winter chill kept early arrivals sparse. Still, thousands were expected for the block party featuring music, performances, and interfaith elements—a living tableau of the city’s diversity.

But Mamdani’s ascent has not been without controversy. His identity as a Muslim democratic socialist drew fierce opposition from some corners, amplifying Islamophobic rhetoric nationally. In the days before the election, Mamdani addressed the backlash head-on: “I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I’m proud to call my own. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.”

The decision to use a Quran for the oath reignited debates over religious identity in public office. Conservative figures like U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville voiced open hostility, drawing condemnation from civil rights groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Yet, for many New Yorkers, the ceremony was a celebration of the city’s pluralism, not a threat to it.

Following the inauguration, the historic Quran will go on public display at the New York Public Library, inviting residents to explore the multifaceted history of Islam in New York. Curator Abid hopes that the attention, whether critical or supportive, will prompt more people to engage with the library’s collections—from Armenian and Arabic music recorded in the early 20th century, to personal accounts of Islamophobia after September 11.

As Mamdani ascended the station’s stairs after his oath, his brief farewell—“Thank you all so much, now I will see you later”—felt emblematic of a new chapter for the city. The symbolism of the ceremony and the challenges ahead suggest a tenure where representation is not just a headline, but a daily reality for the millions who call New York home.

Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration is more than a personal milestone—it’s a vivid reflection of New York’s evolving identity, where tradition and transformation walk side by side. The historic ceremony signals both the promise and the tension of a city constantly reinventing itself, reminding us that leadership, at its best, draws strength from the very diversity some may fear.