Zohran Mamdani: New York's new mayor 'won't hesitate' to use his power

New York's new mayor Zohran Mamdani has vowed to run the city "expansively and audaciously" after his historic inauguration.

The Democratic Socialist became the Big Apple's first Muslim mayor after a midnight oath-taking at the Old City Hall subway stop, which is only accessible a few times a year via guided tours.

He is also the first person of South Asian descent and the first African-born person to become the city's mayor, having been born in Uganda.

In a later grander inauguration ceremony at City Hall, he declared: "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 said his administration will not "hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers' lives", hinting at an era of "big government" for the city.

"I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist," he added.

He was sworn in at the second event by Senator Bernie Sanders - a hero of Mr Mamdani's who has run to be the Democrats' nominee for president.

Mr Mamdani, a 34-year-old former state assemblyman, swept into office late last year on a platform of tackling the spiralling cost of living, chiefly by implementing rent freezes and making buses free.

He inspired ‌a record-breaking turnout of more than two million voters, taking 50% of the vote, nearly 10 points ahead of former Democratic New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who was running as an independent.

As America's most populous city, New York has roughly eight million residents.

Thousands of people turned out to watch the inauguration ceremony at City Hall, braving the cold to do so.

Mr Mamdani moved quickly to revoke multiple executive orders issued by the previous administration.

He undid all those issued since 26 September 2024 - the date federal authorities announced then mayor Eric Adams was being indicted on corruption charges, which were later dismissed following an intervention by Donald Trump.

Read more:
Mamdani meets Trump in the Oval Office
From rapper to mayor: Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Mr Mamdani will move from his one-bedroom Astoria to Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City mayors on the upscale Upper East Side.

He is not the city's first mayor to be associated with democratic socialism, though David Dinkins did not make much of his association with the Democratic Socialists of ‍America (DSA) during his 1990-1993 term.

(c) Sky News 2026: Zohran Mamdani: New York's new mayor 'won't hesitate' to use his power