Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will not be sworn in until Jan. 1, but the weight of his upcoming responsibilities is already pressing in — and some challenges may arrive before he officially steps into office.

At just 34, the state assemblyman from Queens and self-described democratic socialist is preparing to take the helm of New York City at a moment when national disputes over immigration, federal aid, and the future direction of the Democratic Party are intensifying. According to reporting from The New York Times, Mamdani’s entrance into City Hall places him squarely in the middle of multiple political storms the moment he takes the oath.

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani repeatedly emphasized that his administration would confront what he calls a “cost of living crisis.” Speaking to journalists outside City Hall on the evening before Election Day, he said his first day as mayor would be spent the same way his last day as a candidate was: focused on easing financial pressure for working families.

However, one of his earliest and most formidable tests may come from President Donald Trump, who has aggressively attacked Mamdani in recent speeches and social media posts. Trump has labeled the incoming mayor a communist and has warned that New York City will “not survive” under his leadership.

The president has also threatened to withdraw federal funding from the city and has suggested he might deploy the National Guard or federal immigration agencies in response to policies he expects Mamdani to pursue.

For his part, Mamdani has struck a tone that mixes defiance with openness to negotiation. In an interview on Fox News’s The Story With Martha MacCallum, he said he would be willing to meet with Trump if it meant securing lower costs for New Yorkers, adding that he is “ready to speak at any time.” At the same time, he has stressed that he will not hesitate to join forces with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James to challenge federal actions he deems unlawful or harmful.

One of Mamdani’s most ambitious proposals is the creation of a universal free child-care program that would cover all children from six weeks to five years old. Early estimates place the cost of such a program at roughly $6 billion annually. Gov. Hochul has signaled support for the idea, noting that she has discussed the initiative with Mamdani and believes a statewide push for expanded child care is both possible and necessary. She has also indicated that child-care expansion will be a key focus of her upcoming State of the State address.

Another centerpiece of Mamdani’s platform is his promise to freeze rents on nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments. The city’s Rent Guidelines Board — whose members are appointed by the mayor — determines rent adjustments each year. During former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, the board froze rents three times, setting a precedent Mamdani hopes to follow. He told Hell Gate that he intends to fully use the authority of the office to enact a freeze, arguing that Democrats too often hold themselves back. “You look at Republicans — they seem to have no limits in their imagination or how they want to use power,” he said. “As Democrats, it’s like we’re constructing an ever-lowering ceiling.”

The mayor-elect has also pledged to develop 200,000 affordable homes over the next decade, though many analysts predict this goal may prove difficult given the city’s complex zoning, financing constraints, and limited available land.

Mamdani’s campaign was not without controversy. He faced sharp criticism over previous comments related to Israel, which some accused of fueling antisemitism. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Manhattan’s Central Synagogue publicly stated that his rhetoric contributed to the “mainstreaming of some of the most abhorrent antisemitism,” remarks that drew significant attention during the race.

Business leaders have also expressed unease, worrying that Mamdani’s policies could negatively impact the city’s economic climate. Compounding these challenges is the fact that Mamdani enters office with relatively few close allies on the City Council — a potential obstacle as he seeks to move major proposals through the legislative process.

Before taking office, Mamdani plans to travel to Puerto Rico to meet with City Council members attending an annual political conference. Council members are preparing to select a new speaker, a decision that will shape Mamdani’s ability to advance his agenda.

Although he was once a vocal supporter of the “defund the police” movement, Mamdani now says he wants to work collaboratively with the NYPD and intends to retain Commissioner Jessica Tisch. He has apologized for comments he made during 2020 protests, when he referred to police as “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”

Speaking to The New York Times, he said he has gained a deeper understanding of officers’ daily realities, noting that “beyond every headline and beyond every caricature,” most New Yorkers — including police — are simply trying to do their best.

Mamdani plans to create a new Department of Community Safety that would dispatch mental-health professionals rather than police officers to 911 calls involving individuals in crisis. The proposal signals his intention to reshape public safety without dismantling existing institutions.

As Jan. 1 approaches, New York City stands at the edge of a new political era — one that promises conflict, opportunity, and a mayor determined to change the city from the ground up.