Zohran Mamdani is the mayor-elect, having won the November 4, 2025, election as the Democratic nominee with approximately 50.8% of the vote. He defeated Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo (former governor attempting a comeback).
Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and New York State Assembly member, will be sworn in shortly after midnight on January 1, 2026, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, first of South Asian descent, and youngest in over a century.
The transition is underway, with Mamdani announcing key appointments (e.g., retaining NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, naming Dean Fuleihan as first deputy mayor) and planning ceremonies: a private midnight oath in an abandoned subway station and a public event on New Year’s Day.
His agenda focuses on affordability, housing, rent freezes, and universal childcare. This marks the end of Eric Adams’ term, which was marred by scandals, low approval ratings, and his withdrawal from re-election.