New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji react as confetti falls during his inauguration ceremony in New York City, U.S., January 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
(New York, New York) – In sub-freezing wind outside City Hall, New York’s newest political era began the way many conservatives feared it would: not with a unifying civic moment, but with a rally-style celebration for a self-described democratic socialist – complete with chants, merchandise, and an unapologetic call for expanded government power.
By early afternoon, the inauguration “block party” in the Financial District of Manhattan, was a test of endurance. Temperatures hovered around 26 degrees, after spending much of the day in the low 20s, with wind chill pushing conditions into what felt like the single digits. The pavement was slick with ice and salt. Supporters bounced in place, ran in circles, and did jumping jacks to stay warm as volunteers handed out Zohran Mamdani pins and attendees layered campaign gear over heavy winter coats. Chants repeatedly cut through the cold during speeches – “Zohran! Zohran! Zohran!” and “Tax the Rich!” – reinforcing the activist tone of the event.
The symbolism was unmistakable – and to critics, deeply telling. Earlier in the day, Zohran Mamdani became the first mayor in New York City history to be sworn in inside the long-closed Old City Hall subway station, breaking from long-standing civic tradition in favor of political theater. His team framed the choice as a nod to “working people,” but for conservatives it
signaled something else: a willingness to discard norms and expectations on day one.
At the public ceremony, Mamdani reinforced that message, openly declaring he was elected as a Democratic Socialist and would govern as one. He promised sweeping changes – rent freezes, free buses, universal child care, and higher taxes on the wealthy – presenting an expanded role for government not as a policy debate, but as a moral imperative.
Supporters in the crowd said those promises are exactly why they showed up despite the bitter cold. Byron, a New York City
voter, said he backed Mamdani because “We need change. We need a new direction,” adding, “I hope he makes the city more affordable again – where regular people can afford to live here.” Phillip Mendoza of Harlem praised Mamdani’s energy and youth, saying, “It’s about time young leaders step up.” Asked whether Mamdani’s open embrace of socialism concerned him, Mendoza replied, “It doesn’t scare me at all… a lot of the things we take for granted, people call that socialism.”
Others echoed that message. Abdul, a Brooklyn resident who said he persuaded family members to vote for Mamdani, said what stood out was the tone of the campaign. “When I listened to his agenda, he was giving an agenda on why you should vote for him,” Abdul said, pointing to universal child care as a key issue. “People have to go to work and have their kids looked after. That’s very hard to do both.”
The Democratic Socialists of America were not just present – they were proud. Grace Mosler, a co-chair of NYC DSA, said her group played a central role in Mamdani’s rise.
“We’re the largest chapter of the largest socialist organization in the country,” she said, noting more than 13,000 members locally. When asked what she would say to Americans who find socialism frightening, Mosler responded, “If you like public school, you like socialism,” arguing the policies Mamdani promotes are not radical when broken down.
But the celebration did not go unchallenged. Ariel Kohane, an Upper West Side Republican
district leader holding a Trump themed yamaka, said the moment marked “a really sad day,” describing himself as an Orthodox Jewish, pro-Israel, MAGA conservative. “He knows how to talk,” Culhane said of Mamdani. “But action is what counts, not words. He knows how to win people over – that doesn’t mean it’s going to work.” Kohane said he and others came not to celebrate, but to protest what they see as a dangerous political shift.
Emily Miller, a longtime Manhattan resident who supported a different candidate, said she hopes Mamdani “has a lot to learn,” adding that she wants him to reconsider positions she believes are divisive. “I do hope that he does change his stance,” she said, citing concerns over foreign policy rhetoric.
As confetti fell and supporters cheered in the freezing wind, the divide was unmistakable. For Mamdani’s base, the day marked the beginning of what they called a “new era.” For conservatives watching from the crowd, the slogans, chants, and ideological certainty felt like a preview of an administration prepared to govern boldly from the left – regardless of who is left standing out in the cold.
