New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji began moving into the official mayoral residence on Monday (January 12, 2026), leaving behind their leaky, one-bedroom apartment in Queens for a fully staffed mansion in Manhattan.
As workers unloaded cardboard boxes stuffed with houseplants and rolled up carpets, Mr. Mamdani marked the latest inaugural rite of passage with a press conference on his new riverfront lawn.
“Today, Rama and I feel lucky to participate in a ritual that so many New Yorkers have experienced at various meaningful moments in their lives: Beginning a new chapter, by moving to a different part of the city that we call home,” Mr. Mamdani said.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani creates history as New York’s first Muslim, South Asian Mayor
Nearly all of the city's mayors have slept — at least sometimes — in the stately, custard-colored 18th century home, known as Gracie Mansion, since its 1942 designation as the official mayoral residence.
