Bernie Sanders says he's 'proud' to be swearing in Zohran Mamdani: 'Best of luck to the new mayor'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Sen Bernie Sanders announced he will ceremonially swear in New York City's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Thursday, January 1, saying he’s “proud” to play a role as the city prepares to usher in a new administration.

The Vermont Independent will appear at the New Year’s Day event as Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor.

“I’m proud to be swearing in @ZohranKMamdani as Mayor of New York on January 1. Zohran and his supporters showed the world that when working people stand together, we can defeat the Democratic and Republican establishments, Trump, and the Oligarchs. Best of luck to the new mayor,” Sanders posted on X.

Progressive alliance delivers landslide victory

Mamdani, a former New York State Assembly member, enjoyed full backing from Sanders during the campaign. The mayor-elect has previously described Sanders as a “political inspiration.”

Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also campaigned alongside Sanders and Mamdani during the race, thereby helping solidify a left-wing coalition behind his candidacy.

Zohran Mamdani with Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) during an election rally at Forest Hills Stadium on October 26, 2025, in the Queens borough of New York City (Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)

Mamdani’s November victory stunned the city’s political establishment.

Starting the race with just 1% in early polling, the Bowdoin College graduate and sitting state assemblyman surged past the competition to win more than 50% of the vote, securing over 1.1 million ballots.

Former Gov Andrew Cuomo ran as a third-party candidate and finished second with 41.6%, while the Republican contender Curtis Sliwa failed to make a dent.

Zohran Mamdani to take oath at long-abandoned Old City Hall subway station

Mamdani will officially take office at midnight on New Year’s Day, with the ceremony set inside the long-abandoned Old City Hall subway station beneath Lower Manhattan.

“When Old City Hall Station first opened in 1904—one of New York’s 28 original subway stations—it was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples’ lives,” Mamdani said in a press release.

“That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: It will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above,” he added. 

The initial ceremony will be private, attended by Mamdani’s family and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who will administer the official oath of office.

Mamdani has cited James as one of his inspirations. In a press release, James described her role in the ceremony as “an honor,” adding that Mamdani “ran a campaign that brought together New Yorkers around the universal idea that we should all be able to afford to live in our city.”

Public ceremony at City Hall later in the day

Later on January 1, Mamdani will appear at a public ceremony on the steps of City Hall, where Sanders will administer the ceremonial swearing-in.

“At a moment when democracy is under attack and cynicism about our politics runs deep, Zohran Mamdani represents a new generation of progressive leadership rooted in courage, integrity, and solidarity,” Sanders said in a press release.

“His victory is not just about one city or one election, it is about the strength of a working-class movement that says unequivocally: the future of New York belongs to the people, not the billionaire class. It is my honor to swear him in as the next mayor of New York City,” the senator added.