At the official swearing-in ceremony of New York’s new mayor, Zohra Mamdani, congressional representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on New Yorkers to celebrate the event as their own victory. Speaking at City Hall, she praised residents for choosing courageous and historic leadership during uncertain times, emphasizing that they opted for collective prosperity over fear and inequality.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic representative from New York’s 14th Congressional District, had endorsed Mamdani in June 2025 and actively mobilized voters in the months leading up to the election. She previously told a rally of 13,000 people in Queens that Mamdani’s victory would send a clear message rejecting authoritarianism. During the inauguration, she congratulated citizens for electing a mayor committed to building a hopeful future for working people.

Echoing Mamdani’s campaign promises, Ocasio-Cortez praised plans for universal childcare, affordable housing, and accessible public transport. She described the city’s choice as a rejection of division and extreme inequality, expressing confidence that New York’s example could inspire broader change.