Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will take the oath of office in two ceremonies led by two of his longtime political inspirations — New York Attorney General Letitia James and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders — marking the beginning of what his team calls “the Inauguration of a New Era” for New York City.
Attorney General Letitia James will administer the official oath at midnight on December 31 in a private ceremony attended by Mamdani’s family. A second, public swearing-in will follow on January 1, when Senator Bernie Sanders will formally inaugurate Mamdani as the city’s next mayor during a celebratory block party along Broadway’s famed Canyon of Heroes.
The public event — the first of its kind for a New York City mayoral inauguration — aims to open the traditional ceremony to all New Yorkers, not just the 4,000 guests typically invited to the City Hall Plaza. The inaugural block party will feature large public viewing areas and performances in what Mamdani’s team describes as an effort to ensure “the day belongs to all New Yorkers.”
In his announcement, Senator Sanders praised Mamdani as part of a new generation reshaping progressive politics at the local level. “At a moment when democracy is under attack and cynicism about our politics runs deep, Zohran Mamdani represents a new generation of leadership rooted in courage, integrity, and solidarity,” Sanders said. “His victory is about the strength of a working-class movement that says unequivocally: the future of New York belongs to the people, not the billionaire class.”
Attorney General James echoed that sentiment, commending Mamdani’s campaign for uniting New Yorkers around affordability and fairness. “He ran a campaign that brought together New Yorkers around the universal idea that we should all be able to afford to live in our city,” she said.
For his part, Mayor-elect Mamdani said being sworn in by both leaders is deeply meaningful. “Attorney General James has taken on powerful interests in defense of New Yorkers and embodied the principle of equal justice. Senator Sanders laid the foundation for our movement with his commitment to the dignity of working people,” Mamdani said. “I can think of no better leaders to help usher in a new era for New York City.”
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
