FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker submitted his resignation less than 12 hours after socialist Zohran Mamdani was declared the winner of New York City’s mayoral election, Breitbart reports. Tucker informed Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday morning that his last day as FDNY commissioner will be December 19, 2025. In his resignation letter, Tucker expressed pride in leading the department and pledged to ensure a smooth transition before stepping down.
“Between now and then, I will continue to lead the greatest fire department in the world and will ensure an orderly transition,” Tucker said in his letter to Adams.
Though Tucker did not specify his reasons for resigning, sources revealed to the New York Daily News that he, a Jewish philanthropist and businessman, felt he would not align well with the incoming mayor and his team. Mamdani, a self-described socialist who has faced criticism for his stance on Israel and Hamas, will be sworn in as New York City’s mayor on January 1, 2026.
Tucker has been deeply involved in charitable efforts and has received honors from the New York Board of Rabbis and Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. He took over as FDNY commissioner in August 2024 and was praised for reducing fire-related deaths to the lowest in a decade and modernizing the department.
Mamdani won the mayoral race by garnering 50 percent of the vote, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo. His victory marks the city’s first Muslim and socialist mayor and indicates a significant political shift in New York City’s leadership.
