New York, Jan. 2 -- Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the new Mayor of New York City early Thursday in an unusual ceremony held at a closed subway station beneath City Hall. With this, the 34-year-old Democrat became the first Muslim, first South Asian and first African-born person to lead the largest city in the United States.

The oath of office was administered shortly after midnight by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Mamdani took the oath on a centuries-old copy of the Quran, a first for a New York City mayor. The law does not require any specific religious text to be used during the oath.

Mamdani was accompanied by his wife, Rama Duwaji, during the ceremony, which was attended by close supporters and officials. Addressin...