New York City fire chief to resign next month after Mamdani victory

New York City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker on Wednesday announced that he will resign his post next month, just a day after Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani was elected to lead the city. 

Mamdani defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the tightly watched mayoral race on Tuesday, and will replace outgoing Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. 

Tucker, a Jewish philanthropist and Zionist, said he felt he wouldn't mesh well with Mamdani, according to an NYFD source. Tucker said he will remain in the post until Dec. 19 to help the department have "an orderly transition," and an interim commissioner is expected to be named. He did not publicly give a reason for his departure but has served in the job since 2024.

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 35th New York City Fire Commissioner," Tucker said in a statement shared with Fox News. "Thank you to Mayor Adams for his trust and confidence in doing this job. We empowered the brave men and women who keep our city safe, bringing fire-related deaths to a historic low." 

Adams praised Tucker's legacy, applauding the man's sincere courage, passion, and dedication to public safety.

"When I appointed Commissioner Tucker to this critical role, I knew he’d have the experience, grit, and zeal to protect our city and support our fearless heroes – the firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics who put their lives on the line for New York every day," Adams said. "We are incredibly grateful for Commissioner Tucker’s service and look forward to seeing what he’ll do next."

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, is expected to be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2026.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.