Zohran Mamdani becomes first NYC mayor sworn in on Quran - why the abandoned subway station?

It's official - Zohran Mamdani has been sworn in as the new mayor of New York City.

Just after midnight on New Year's Day, the 34-year-old Democratic socialist took the oath in a historic former subway station beneath City Hall, with his public inauguration scheduled for later today (1 January).

For those who need a reminder, Mamdani soared to victory in the Big Apple's mayoral race on November 4, defeating Republican activist Curtis Sliwa and independent former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo.

He made history in a number of ways by becoming the city's first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and the first born in Africa, as well as becoming the first Millennial to take on the role, with his wife Rama Duwaji also becoming NYC's first-ever Gen Z first lady at 28.

To honour his Muslim faith, Mamdani was sworn in with a Quran, which is Islam’s holiest book - and he's the first ever New York City mayor to do so.

Zohran Mamdani just officially became mayor of New York City (Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in using a Quran

Mamdani's wife, artist Rama, held out the holy book by which the new mayor took his oath of office.

According to The New York Times, two were used during the ceremony - his grandfather’s and one that belonged to writer and historian Arturo Schomburg and was lent to him by the New York Public Library.

Hiba Abid, the library’s curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, told the publication: "It’s a highly symbolic choice because we’re about to have a Muslim mayor swearing in using the Quran but also a mayor who was born on the African continent, in Uganda."

She added: "It really brings together here elements of faith, identity and New York history."

Mamdani was sworn in using a Quran to honour his Muslim faith (Amir Hamja/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

During the private ceremony, which was administered by New York attorney general Letitia James, Mamdani said: “This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime.”

However, the detail people are confused over is why the historic moment took place in an abandoned subway station, specifically the old City Hall subway station in Lower Manhattan.

Well, there's actually a pretty good reason behind the unexpected choice.

Why Zohran Mamdani was sworn in at a subway station

As reported by NPR, the decision was meant to capture the spirit of the city's history of serving working people, with Mamdani wanting to highlight his incoming administration's civic priorities.

One of the pledges in his campaign was free public transport, so it's quite fitting.

Mamdani told Streetsblog NYC, which first reported the news, that when the station first opened in 1904, 'it was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples' lives'.

There's a symbolic reason why he chose the subway station (Pool/Getty Images)

He explained: "That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: It will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above.

"When I take my oath from the station at the dawn of the New Year, I will do so humbled by the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity, and honoured to carry forward our city’s legacy of greatness."

The publication also reports that the old City Hall station was actually the first stop on the first subway ride back in 1904, but was closed to the public on New Year's Day 1945 after low ridership.

It was later designated a New York City landmark in 1979 and put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

And don't be fooled, as it's far from a dingy old subway station - it's also known for being architecturally grand, with chandeliers, glass skylights and tiled vaulted tunnels.

Congratulations Mayor Mamdani!