Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James mispronounced newly-elected Democrat New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s name Thursday while swearing him in.
James conducted the private event at the abandoned Old City Hall subway station at midnight Jan. 1, 2026, which formally transferred power from now-former Mayor Eric Adams to the 34-year-old Mamdani. Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders publicly swore Mamdani in as mayor at the steps of New York’s City Hall later Thursday. Mamdani used two Qurans for the private ceremony, one that belonged to his grandfather and another from the New York City Public Library, becoming the first mayor of the city to use the Muslim religious book.
The attorney general began by greeting onlookers and expressing how honored she was “to inaugurate the man who will bring about a new era of progress, promise and prosperity for New York City.” (RELATED: FLASHBACK: Keffiyeh-Clad Zohran Mamdani Yearned For More Feminist Remakes Of Beloved Action Movies In Resurfaced Clip)
“Please repeat after me. Raise your right hand,” James said, beginning the process while. “I, Zohran Kwamee Mandani [sic], do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of New York and the Charter of the City of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of the mayor of the city of New York, according to the best of my ability, so help me God.”
Mamdani repeated the words, speaking his name without commenting. James congratulated Mamdani on assuming the office of mayor to widespread cheers.
The self-described socialist mayor has pledged to deliver on a number of public benefits, including free buses, grocery stories run by the city, free childcare and a minimum wage increase to $30. Mamdani has pushed for a state corporate tax rate hike and and a 2% flat tax on the highest income-earners in new York City, though those potential sources of money are likely not enough or even politically feasible, according to Politico.
However, a Siena poll released Dec. 16, 2025, found Mamdani had a 46% favorability rate throughout New York state, up from 40% in November. 66% of New York City voters think Mamdani’s victory is good for the city while 25% think the opposite, compared to 57% and 26% respectively in November.
Mamdani secured victory with 50.4% of the vote — more than a million ballots — in the mayoral election on Nov. 4, 2025, according to NBC News. Former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate in the race, secured 41.6% while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa brought in 7.1%.