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# Zohran Mamdani's historic NYC Mayoral swearing-in features trans icon Bernie Wagenblast
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/zohran-mamdanis-historic-nyc-mayoral-swearing-in-features-trans-icon-bernie-wagenblast/
- Published: 2026-01-05T12:57:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-05T12:57:35.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: North America

**New York City** ushered in a new era on **1 January** as **Zohran Mamdani** became the city’s 112th mayor - its youngest ever and first Muslim office-holder - during a ceremony marked by an unexpected yet iconic presence: **Bernie Wagenblast**, the celebrated trans voice of the city’s transport system.

The inauguration featured two symbolic events. At midnight, Mamdani took a private oath in the decommissioned **Old City Hall** subway station, his hand resting on a Qur’an, with State Attorney General **Letitia James** officiating. Later, a public ceremony on the steps of **City Hall** saw Senator **Bernie Sanders** administer the oath before a cheering crowd.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2026/01/New_York_State_Assemblymember_Zohran_Mamdani_-landscape_crop-.jpg)

Zohran Mamdani 

Wagenblast, a pioneering trans woman whose voice resonates daily across New York’s subways, narrated the proceedings, adding a distinctive civic touch. Her involvement was widely praised as a milestone for representation and inclusivity.

In his inaugural address, Mamdani pledged bold reforms, including universal childcare, rent stabilisation, free bus fares and city-run supermarkets. “We will govern expansively and audaciously,” he declared, signalling a progressive shift in the city’s political landscape.

The day concluded with a celebratory block party along Broadway’s **Canyon of Heroes**, underscoring the optimism surrounding Mamdani’s historic leadership.