Mamdani set to become NYC mayor as centuries-old numbering debate unfolds
A centuries-long ledger of New York's leaders may be revised after a miscount centered on one early mayor and colonial-era records
Zohran Mamdani is set to become New York City's mayor on January 1, 2026, the first Muslim and the first person of South Asian heritage to hold the office. He also faces a historical footnote: a debate over whether he should be numbered as the 111th or the 112th mayor, a discrepancy rooted in centuries-old record-keeping.
At the center is Matthias Nicolls, an early English colonial figure who served as mayor from 1671 to 1672, briefly left, and then was returned to office in 1674 after a Dutch invasion and a change in governance. The city's printed mayoral list, dating to the mid-1800s, does not show that second term. If Nicolls' second term is counted, the numbering would shift for 350 years of successors, from William Dervall (No. 9) to incumbent Eric Adams (No. 111).
At the center of the discussion is Paul Hortenstine, a Washington, D.C.-area historian who has studied early New York mayors and their ties to slavery. Hortenstine, who once worked on Michael Bloomberg's 2009 reelection campaign, says the numbering is a fascinating issue that is more complicated than it appears at first glance. If Nicolls' second term were recognized, Bloomberg would become the 109th mayor under a renumbered list, and Mamdani's placement would follow accordingly.
The debate gained momentum after Gothamist raised questions about the official list. In a Dec. 11 blog post, city records archivist Michael Lorenzini traced a trail of complexities and gaps in centuries-old records. "It does appear that on January 1, 2026, Mayor Mamdani should be mayor number 112," Lorenzini wrote, while noting that "the numbering of New York City ‘mayors’ has been somewhat arbitrary and inconsistent." The list also omits the burgomasters who served during Dutch governance and does not account for Native American leaders who lived in the area before colonization. Some acting mayors are mentioned but not given numbers, and an obscure 2015 version of the list in city archives contains its own quirks.
For now, officials describe the numbering as partly academic but with historical value. Lorenzini emphasized that the city’s records remain accessible and that the discussion invites deeper exploration of early governance and slavery's role in city history. "History is still alive," he said.