New York City has a new mayor, and he’s making history. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in this afternoon as the city’s youngest mayor in generations, according to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s opening remarks at the ceremony.
A New Era for the Big Apple
The 34-year-old Mamdani is also the first South Asian and Muslim to hold the office.
- Mamdani, 34, is New York City’s youngest mayor in generations.
- He is the first South Asian and Muslim to serve as mayor.
- Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders administered the oath of office.
- First Lady Rama Duwaji’s fashion choices are already garnering attention.
Mamdani, 34, affirmed his commitment to an inclusive vision for the city, vowing to govern “expansively and audaciously.” He declared that New York would not be defined by economic disparity, stating it would not be a city “governed only by the one percent,” or “a tale of two cities, the rich versus the poor.” The swearing-in occurred twice: privately at midnight on January 1, and publicly at City Hall Plaza later in the day, with Mamdani utilizing two family Qurans for both oaths.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders officiated the ceremony, expressing gratitude to New York City voters for electing Mamdani and asserting that the new mayor’s ideas are “not radical.”
Breaking the Mold
Mamdani and his wife, 28-year-old illustrator Rama Duwaji, represent a shift in the city’s political landscape. Their youth and backgrounds—Mamdani born in Uganda to Indian parents, and Duwaji in Texas to Syrian Muslim progenitors—have been widely noted, sometimes with celebratory enthusiasm and, at other times, with Islamophobic criticism.
The couple’s style is also under scrutiny as they transition into their new roles. Balancing their progressive politics with the expectations of public image will be a key challenge moving forward.
During the celebration of his election victory in November 2025, Duwaji showcased her fashion sense with a top by London-based Palestinian-Jordanian designer Zeid Hijazi and a skirt by New York-born and -based Ulla Johnson, known for her bohemian aesthetic. She effortlessly blended the roles of first lady and a young woman celebrating a special occasion. She received styling advice from Bailey Moon, who also works with Morgan Spector, Cristin Milioti, and notably, Jill Biden and her family throughout President Joe Biden’s administration.
