Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) praised newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday, framing his ascension as a pivotal turning point for the city and a mandate to advance an aggressive working-class agenda.
Mamdani was inaugurated as New York City’s 112th mayor during a private ceremony at an abandoned subway station near City Hall. His public oath was administered by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a fellow democratic socialist.
A former state Assembly member, Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the November election to become the city’s first Muslim mayor.
“This ascent marks a new era for New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez stated. “Mamdani is a historic new mayor guided by his dedication to the working class that makes our beautiful city run.”
Ocasio-Cortez added that New Yorkers had “chosen courage over fear” and “prosperity for the many over spoils for the few,” urging residents to reject entrenched systems in favor of building “a new future for all of us.” She emphasized that citizens had prioritized universal child care, affordable housing, and improved public transit over “distractions of bigotry and extreme inequality.”
Mamdani’s campaign centered on affordability, with promises including a rent freeze for stabilized apartments, expanded or free bus service, and universal child care.
