Democrat Zohran Mamdani just became New York City's 112th mayor, and he's bringing some significant firsts with him. At 34, he's the youngest person to lead the Big Apple in over a century. He's also the city's first Muslim mayor, sworn in with his hand on the Qur'an at a midnight ceremony on January 1st, 2026.

A Historic Ceremony in an Unusual Location

The private swearing-in took place at the old City Hall subway station, a fitting spot for someone who campaigned on making the city work better for everyone. New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath, while Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, stood alongside him. His parents were there too: filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a professor of African studies at Columbia University.

Mamdani called the moment "an honor and the privilege of a lifetime." Former Mayor Eric Adams attended the ceremony, which preceded an official public event scheduled for Friday at New York City Hall.

"Welcome to a new era for NYC," Mamdani's official mayoral account posted on X Thursday. That's quite a declaration, especially after beating Republican activist Curtis Sliwa and former Governor Andrew Cuomo in what turned into a surprisingly competitive three-way race.

Bernie Sanders Weighs In

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) took to X on Wednesday to say he was "proud" to be swearing in Mamdani. Sanders framed the victory as proof that "we can defeat the Democratic and Republican establishments, Trump and the Oligarchs." He wished Mamdani "best of luck" in what's sure to be a challenging job.

Trump Meetings and Musk Drama

Mamdani's early moves have already generated plenty of attention. In November, he met with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss New York City's affordability crisis. Trump called it a "very productive" meeting and praised Mamdani's campaign: "He really ran an incredible race against a lot of smart people."

Things got spicier with Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk. When Mamdani announced Lillian Bonsignore as FDNY commissioner, Musk publicly questioned the choice, citing her lack of experience. Mamdani pushed back, noting that Bonsignore brings over 30 years of EMS experience to the role.

The tension between the two goes back further. During the campaign, Musk endorsed Cuomo for mayor, prompting Mamdani to quip: "Another big endorsement for @andrewcuomo. And it only cost $959 million in tax breaks." Ouch.

Now the real work begins. Mamdani inherits a city grappling with affordability issues, infrastructure challenges, and the usual chaos that comes with running America's largest city. At 34, he's got plenty of time to figure it out.