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NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani to be Sworn In by Letitia James and Bernie Sanders

2025-12-22

The BareStory

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will be sworn into office on January 1 through two separate ceremonies, his transition office announced. New York Attorney General Letitia James is set to administer the official oath of office at midnight in a private ceremony. Later that day, Senator Bernie Sanders will administer the oath again during a public inauguration at City Hall.

The public event is planned to be larger than past mayoral inaugurations. In addition to the ticketed ceremony, which will also include the swearing-in of Comptroller-elect Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a block party will be held on Broadway. According to Mamdani's team, tens of thousands of people are anticipated to be able to attend the block party, which is titled "Inauguration of a New Era."

In a statement, Senator Sanders called Mamdani a "new generation of progressive leadership" and described his victory as a win for the "working-class movement." Attorney General James said it was an honor to swear Mamdani in, adding that his campaign brought New Yorkers together.

Mamdani stated it was an honor to be sworn in by two leaders he has long admired. He praised James for defending New Yorkers against "powerful interests" and credited Sanders for his "steadfast commitment to the dignity of working people" and his belief in a government that serves "the many, not just the few."

Left Perspective

  • The state's top legal official will administer the official oath of office.
  • The inauguration ceremony will include other top city officials.
  • The mayor-elect expressed admiration for established leaders.

Right Perspective

  • The public inauguration will be led by a national progressive icon.
  • The inauguration event is explicitly themed as a departure from the past.
  • The mayor-elect's message emphasizes a government for the working class.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The large public inauguration and block party may cause significant street closures and transit disruptions for those in or traveling to New York City on January 1.

• The mayor's messaging and choice of officiants suggest potential new policies in NYC focusing on working-class issues, which could serve as a model for other cities.

• The event's framing as a "win for the working-class movement" may signal a growing influence of progressive leadership in major U.S. cities, potentially impacting future elections.

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