NEW YORK, Nov 6: New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani began his transition on Wednesday, unveiling an all-women leadership team and pledging to build a government that turns his progressive campaign promises into action, Al Jazeera reported
Speaking briefly, the 34-year-old lawmaker said he was ready to move from the “poetry” of campaigning to the “prose of governing,” emphasizing a city hall defined by compassion, integrity, and hard work. He said his administration would focus on serving the millions who call New York home.
Mamdani’s transition team will be co-chaired by four women, including Lina Khan, the former chief of the Federal Trade Commission known for her stance on antitrust enforcement. His victory on Tuesday made him New York City’s first Muslim mayor after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was backed by President Donald Trump, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, according to Al Jazeera.
New York’s new mayor-elect Mamdani marks historic win with Mo:M...
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, will take office on January 1, 2026. The election was viewed as a broader contest between the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and its centrist establishment.
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani drew national attention for his advocacy for Palestinian rights. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has said it will monitor his incoming administration, claiming concerns over alleged anti-Israel bias.
ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt accused Mamdani of “intense animosity” toward Israel and vowed to hold him accountable to support Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani, in turn, has criticized Israel’s human rights record but assured that Jewish residents would be protected, maintaining ongoing dialogue with community leaders, Al Jazeera noted.
Mamdani’s policy agenda centers on affordability and social equity. He plans to make public buses free, freeze rents for government-subsidized housing, and expand free childcare. To fund these measures, he aims to collaborate with state lawmakers to increase taxes on the city’s highest earners. His proposals are seen as a test of how far progressive economic reform can go in one of the world’s most expensive cities, according to Al Jazeera.
President Trump, who frequently attacked Mamdani during the race, warned he would cut federal funds to New York if the new mayor took office. On election night, Mamdani responded directly, saying, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”
He pledged to confront Trump through legal means if federal retaliation follows, telling reporters that his administration “will use the courts” rather than accept unilateral presidential action, reported Al Jazeera.
Democrats saw broader gains in Tuesday’s elections, with victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and local contests in Georgia and California. The results were widely seen as a boost for Democrats ahead of the midterms.
Trump, acknowledging the losses, blamed the federal government shutdown and renewed his call to end the Senate filibuster to pass restrictive voting laws. His remarks repeated long-debunked claims about voter fraud through mail-in ballots, according to Al Jazeera.
