PERFECT PAIRING: Zohran Mamdani To Be Sworn In As New York City Mayor By Sen. Bernie Sanders and AG Letitia James

Two nationally infamous political figures will take part in the inauguration of New York City’s next mayor when Zohran Mamdani formally assumes office.

According to plans released by the transition team, Bernie Sanders will preside over a celebratory, ceremonial oath during a New Year’s Day block party, while Letitia James will administer the official oath at midnight, the moment Mamdani’s term legally begins.

The transition announcement said Sanders’ “unapologetic progressive values inspired Zohran to run for office in the first place,” underscoring the ideological ties between the mayor-elect and the Vermont senator.

“It is an honor to be sworn in by two leaders I have admired for years: Attorney General Tish James and Senator Bernie Sanders. Attorney General James has taken on powerful interests in her defense of New Yorkers and embodied the principle of equal justice before the law,” Mamdani said in a statement.

“Senator Bernie Sanders laid the foundations for our movement with his steadfast commitment to the dignity of working people and his belief in a government that serves the many, not just the few. I can think of no better leaders to help usher in a new era for New York City,” Mamdani said.

Mamdani secured victory in last month’s election after defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, positioning him to take office on Jan. 1 as mayor of New York City. He also becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor. During the campaign, Mamdani frequently appeared alongside Sanders, drawing energy from the same progressive base that fueled the senator’s two presidential runs.

James emerged as one of Mamdani’s highest-profile supporters in a political landscape where many leading Democrats were cautious about embracing the progressive challenger. Because the Democratic primary used ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank up to five candidates, James publicly disclosed that she placed Mamdani third on her ballot. She later joined him at an October rally shortly after she was indicted on mortgage-related fraud charges, a case that was subsequently dismissed by a federal judge.

“He is a leader fighting for a better future for this city, and he, like me, knows what it’s like to be attacked, to be called names, to be threatened, to be harassed,” James said at the time.

{Matzav.com}