Eric Adams congratulates Zoran Mamdanani on New York mayoral election victory
Mayor Eric Adams congratulated Zoran Mamdani on his victory in the New York mayoral race as supporters celebrated.
Zoran Mamdani made history on Tuesday night, November 4, as the first Muslim mayor-elect in New York City history, and the second youngest mayor in more than 100 years.
The New York state congressman, who was born in Uganda and raised in New York City, originally defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York mayor this summer.
This week, he defeated Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who ran as an independent in the general election. Mamdani won Tuesday night’s general election with more than 50% of the vote, or more than 1 million votes, making him the city’s first Muslim and Asian American mayor.
At 34, Mamdani is also New York City’s second-youngest mayor, after Hugh J. Grant, who was first elected in the 1800s at age 31.
Here’s what you need to know about Mamdani’s inauguration and what past New York mayoral inauguration ceremonies have looked like.
Past mayors were sworn in at midnight and addressed local residents on the same day.
New York City’s new mayor is typically sworn into office on January 1 of the following year, several months after the general election in early November.
Current Mayor Eric Adams will be sworn into office on January 1, 2022, following the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. That night he was introduced by Hon. Sylvia Hines-Radix, Associate Judge, New York State Appellate Division;
A large inaugural event was scheduled for that day at Brooklyn’s King’s Theater, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, TV stations WPIX and FOX 5 reported.
Prior to Adams’ election, former Mayor Bill de Blasio took the oath of office at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2014, in front of his home in New York City’s Park Slope neighborhood. A longer inauguration ceremony was held later that day on City Hall Square, where former President Bill Clinton took the oath of office.
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2002 inauguration ceremony also took place on New Year’s Day.
USA TODAY has reached out to the New York mayor’s office and Mr. Mamdani’s team for more information about the swearing-in.
Learn more about Mayor-elect Mamdani
Mayor-elect Mamdani moved to New York City with his family when he was seven years old. He graduated from the New York City public school system, attended Bronx High School of Science, and earned a bachelor’s degree in African studies from Bowdoin College. He became a naturalized American citizen in 2018.
He previously worked as an anti-foreclosure housing counselor, working with low-income homeowners of color in Queens facing eviction. As a Congressman and Democratic Socialist, he represents the 36th Congressional District and neighboring Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights.
Mamdani ran for mayor on a promise to freeze rents for eligible tenants, provide free bus fare and child care for children between six weeks old and five years old, and address tenant complaints against negligent landlords.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the day after his victory, Mamdani addressed local residents, saying his government would be “equally competent and compassionate” and “driven by integrity.”
“Throughout this campaign, I have worked hard to be approachable and transparent with New Yorkers,” he said. “That same spirit will animate this transition and the City Hall we built, because New Yorkers deserve a government they can trust.”
Contributed by: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TOD
Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia. – Email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
