Bernie Sanders used a Quran to inaugurate Zohran Mamdani as the 112th mayor of New York City, promising democratic socialist administration and issuing executive orders protecting tenants and housing.
On January 1, 2026, Zohran Mamdani became the 112th mayor of New York City, accomplishing a number of historic firsts. The 34-year-old was elected as the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century, as well as its first Muslim and South Asian mayor. Mamdani touched a Quran during a secret midnight ceremony in an abandoned Manhattan subway station. Thereafter, there was a public inauguration that attracted sizable audiences.
Mamdani promised inclusive leadership and aggressive use of governmental authority to address affordability in his speech. In contrast to previous reliance on the private sector, he demanded excellence from public services and pledged to defend all New Yorkers regardless of their differences.
Mamdani enacted executive orders addressing housing insecurity and tenant protections on his first day in office.
In the 2025 contest, victory was based on affordability
In a field that included candidates like Brad Lander and Zellnor Myrie, Mamdani, a state assembly member and democratic socialist, became victorious in the June 2025 Democratic primary using ranked-choice voting. He defeated Republican Curtis Sliwa (7%) and independent Andrew Cuomo (41.3%) in the November general election with 50.8% of the vote.
His campaign capitalized on discontent with departing mayor Eric Adams, who served out his tenure amid a federal prosecution, by highlighting the city’s housing and cost-of-living crises.
Day-one directives reverse existing acts and give tenants priority
Mamdani signaled priorities with speed. executive orders designed to address housing insecurity and create safeguards for tenants. Following Adams’ indictment in September 2024, one canceled all the directives he had signed.
These actions are consistent with his remarks denouncing reluctance to use municipal authority for the benefit of the people.