Bernie Sanders to swear in Zohran Mamdani as New York’s next mayor
NEW YORK CITY: Sen Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) is set to administer the oath of office to Zohran Mamdani when the mayor-elect is sworn in as New York City’s next mayor on January 1, 2026, according to a person familiar with the planning.
The public ceremony will mark the formal beginning of Mamdani’s term, which officially starts at 12.01 am on New Year’s Day. While New York law allows any authorized official to administer the oath, Mamdani selected Sanders, a longtime ally who endorsed and campaigned with him during the race.
Bernie Sanders returns to familiar role at City Hall
This will not be Sanders’ first time administering an oath of office for a New York City mayor. In January 2018, the Vermont senator swore in former Mayor Bill de Blasio at the start of de Blasio’s second term.
Sanders endorsed Mamdani in June, calling his campaign “inspirational” and praising the mayor-elect as a “visionary” leader.
During the campaign, Sanders appeared alongside Mamdani at multiple events, urging voters to support what he described as a bold shift in city leadership.
A Sanders spokesperson declined to comment on the upcoming ceremony, but people close to the planning said that the senator was honored by the request.
Zohran Mamdani’s affordability platform defined campaign
Mamdani ran on a platform centered on affordability for New York City’s more than 8 million residents, arguing that rising living costs have pushed working families to the brink.
Among his signature proposals were city-owned grocery stores aimed at reducing food prices, freezing rents for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, and making city buses free to use.
Mamdani also pledged to expand tenant protections and invest more heavily in public infrastructure.
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani framed affordability as a defining issue for the city’s future, repeatedly arguing that municipal government must take a more direct role in lowering everyday costs.
Historic win reshapes New York's political landscape
Mamdani defeated former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo last month, securing 50.8 percent of the vote to Cuomo’s 41.3 percent.
More than 1.1 million New Yorkers cast ballots for Mamdani, making him the first mayoral candidate to surpass the 1-million-vote mark in the city since 1969.
The victory marked a significant shift in city politics, with Mamdani emerging as one of the most prominent progressive leaders to win executive office in the nation’s largest city.
As inauguration day approaches, attention will turn to how Mamdani translates his campaign agenda into governing priorities - with Sanders’ role in the ceremony underscoring the political lineage behind the mayor-elect’s rise.
