Zohran Mamdani made history Tuesday night, Nov. 4, as the first Muslim mayor-elect in New York City history, and the city’s second youngest mayor in over 100 years.
Born in Uganda and raised in New York City, the New York State assemblyman initially defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary election for mayor of New York this summer.
This week, he again defeated Cuomo, who ran in the general election as an independent candidate, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. In Tuesday night’s general election, Mamdani won with just over 50% of votes, totaling to over 1 million, becoming the city’s first Muslim and Asian American mayor.
At 34 years old, Mamdani is also New York City’s second youngest mayor behind only Hugh J. Grant, who was first elected as mayor at 31 years old during the 1800s.
Here’s what to know about when Mamdani will take office and what past mayoral inaugurations have looked like in New York City.
Past mayors have sworn in at midnight, addressed community same day
New mayors in New York City have typically been sworn in on Jan. 1 of the ensuing year, a couple months after the early November general election.
Current Mayor Eric Adams was sworn in on Jan. 1, 2022 after the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. That night, he was introduced by Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, an associate justice of the New York State Appellate Division.
He was supposed to have a larger inaugural event that day at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater, but canceled it due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reported television stations WPIX and FOX 5.
Prior to Adams’ election, former Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2014, in front of his home in NYC’s Park Slope neighborhood. A longer inaugural event was held later that day at City Hall Plaza, where he was sworn in by former President Bill Clinton.
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2002 inauguration took place on New Years Day, as well.
USA TODAY has reached out to the New York City Mayor’s office and Mamdani’s team for more information about his swearing-in.
New York City mayoral elect Zohran Mamdani gestures onstage at an election night rally in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Nov. 4, 2025.
More on Mayor-elect Mamdani
Mayor-elect Mamdani moved to New York City with his family at 7 years old. He graduated from the NYC Public Schools system, went to the Bronx High School of Science, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. He became naturalized as an American citizen in 2018.
He previously worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor and worked with low-income homeowners of color in Queens facing eviction. As an assemblyman and democratic socialist, he represents the 36th Assembly District and neighborhoods Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway and Astoria Heights.
Mamdani ran for mayor with the promise of freezing rent for eligible tenants, providing free bus fare and childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old and addressing tenant complaints about neglectful landlords.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the day after his victory, Mamdani addressed community members and said his administration will be “equal parts capable and compassionate” and “driven by integrity.”
“Throughout this campaign, I have worked hard to be accessible and transparent with New Yorkers,” he said. “That same spirit will animate this transition, and the city hall we built because New Yorkers deserve a government that they can trust.”
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does Zohran Mamdani officially become NYC mayor? What to know
