On November 4, 2025, as dawn broke over New York City, Zohran Mamdani—a 34-year-old assemblyman from Queens—stood in line at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria. It was his turn to vote in an election that would soon make history. The day was a whirlwind, a blur of public speeches, campaign stops, and rare moments of quiet reflection. "A lot of the day is trying to take in everything that it took to get to the finish line and knowing this was the final opportunity to speak to New Yorkers," Mamdani later reflected, according to New York magazine. Even a routine stop at the barbershop became a moment of calm amid the storm. "I usually fall asleep when I sit in that chair," he admitted, savoring a brief respite before the final push.
Photographer Sinna Nasseri documented Mamdani’s Election Day journey, capturing everything from his breakfast sandwich—egg, avocado, and cheese, naturally—to the anxious minutes after polls closed. The candidate’s schedule was relentless, but he tried to stay grounded. "I was trying to approach each part of the day in and of itself and not think too beyond it," Mamdani said. That strategy was put to the test as he made last-minute appeals to voters and even ran into comedian Tim Robinson near a Lower East Side polling site—a brush with celebrity that left him starstruck.
As evening fell, Mamdani and his team gathered in a Brooklyn hotel suite, nervously awaiting the results. The mood was a "cocktail of exhaustion and excitement," he recalled. The candidate, his wife Rama Duwaji, his parents Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair, and his closest advisers crowded around screens, toggling between CNN, MSNBC, Twitter, and The New York Times. "The final hours of an election are oftentimes the worst ones, where you don’t have any real information so you’re looking to extrapolate from whatever little is being shared," Mamdani confessed. At one point, rumors of a less-than-favorable exit poll sent jitters through the room.
But at 9:35 p.m., the Associated Press called the race. The room erupted. Mamdani, at just 34, had become New York City’s youngest mayor in more than a century. "It was a beautiful moment," he said, describing the "excitement and joy and gratitude" that swept through his team. As supporters gathered at the Brooklyn Paramount for the victory party, Mamdani was joined by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose support had been instrumental throughout the campaign. "To have had her support through the primary and the general, in small moments and big ones, has reminded myself and so many others who are part of this campaign that we are part of a larger struggle, and it’s a struggle focused on dignity for working people," Mamdani said, according to New York magazine.
That night, the celebration was as much about the movement as the man. "There were people there who had helped to raise me. There were New Yorkers who had knocked on doors months before petitioning. There were so many who had believed in this when it was but an idea, and to celebrate their victory, our victory, all together at once—it was a joy," Mamdani recalled.
The victory, as reported by multiple outlets, was nothing short of a political earthquake. Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, had run on a platform of tenant protections, transit investment, and tackling the city’s soaring cost of living. His message resonated with voters across the five boroughs, propelling him to a win that surprised even seasoned political observers. The energy that fueled his campaign didn’t fade after Election Day—in fact, it seemed to intensify.
Just one day after the election, Mamdani’s transition team launched an official portal, transition2025.com, inviting New Yorkers to apply for roles in the incoming administration. The response was staggering. By November 13, more than 50,000 people had submitted applications, according to The Guardian. The surge was so significant that Mamdani himself pointed to it as proof of the “excitement at the heart of this movement.” In a written statement, he said the numbers showed “thousands believe in the possibility of a more affordable and more equitable New York.”
Elana Leopold, executive director of the transition, echoed this sentiment, calling the 50,000 applications a sign of “the strength and momentum behind the incoming administration.” The team has cast a wide net, welcoming applicants from all walks of life—policy veterans, civil servants, community organizers, and early-career hopefuls. The message is clear: anyone committed to Mamdani’s affordability agenda is invited to help shape the city’s future.
The transition team itself is a reflection of this inclusive ethos. It is co-chaired by five women, including former City Hall officials and a former Federal Trade Commission chair, Lina Khan. Their leadership brings a wealth of experience in public service and regulatory oversight. Khan, in particular, has already begun exploring how to maximize Mamdani’s executive authority through little-used laws. In an interview with Pod Save America’s Tommy Vietor, she explained that she’s investigating the extent of mayoral powers in preparation for Mamdani’s swearing-in on January 1, 2026.
Early appointments to the administration signal both continuity and a commitment to experienced governance. Dean Fuleihan, who previously served as First Deputy Mayor, will return to that role, bringing with him deep expertise in fiscal management and city operations. Elle Bisgaard-Church, Mamdani’s campaign manager and former chief of staff in the Assembly, has been named Chief of Staff, underscoring the trust and loyalty within Mamdani’s inner circle.
One of the most closely watched decisions remains the fate of the current NYPD Commissioner, Jessica Tisch. Mamdani has expressed interest in retaining her, but discussions are ongoing and no final decision has been made. Public safety and policing are expected to be among the most scrutinized areas of the new administration, with New Yorkers eager to see how Mamdani balances reform with effective law enforcement.
The momentum behind Mamdani’s transition isn’t limited to job applications. In the 30 hours following the launch of the transition committee, more than $517,000 was raised from over 7,000 donors—a donor count that surpasses the first-term transitions of both Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio combined, according to The Guardian. This outpouring of financial support only adds to the sense that Mamdani’s election is not just a political shift, but a movement that wants to be directly involved in governing.
Yet, for all the enthusiasm, the path forward is not without its challenges. The transition team has not announced when formal appointments will begin or how many positions will ultimately be available. With over 50,000 eager applicants, the reality is that most will not secure a role. Still, the extraordinary level of civic engagement is likely to shape the early months of Mamdani’s tenure, as he and his team work to harness the energy and ideas of a city hungry for change.
As Mamdani prepares to take office, the story of his campaign—and the movement it has inspired—continues to unfold. The coming months will test whether the excitement of victory can be translated into lasting policy, real progress, and a new era for New York City.
