Curtis Sliwa: From Street Vigilante to NYC’s 2025 Mayoral Maverick
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| Throwback photo |
It’s part of a broader controversy in the chaotic NYC mayoral election, where wealthy donors and political insiders are pushing Sliwa to drop out to consolidate anti-progressive votes behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an independent). Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels vigilante group, has staunchly refused, accusing billionaires of trying to “buy” the election and emphasizing voter choice over elite influence.
Key Players and Context
- Curtis Sliwa (Republican Nominee): A 71-year-old radio host and street safety advocate, Sliwa is polling in the mid-teens but has no realistic path to victory in heavily Democratic NYC. He’s framed his refusal to exit as a stand against billionaire meddling, saying, “I trust the people, I don’t trust the billionaires.” 1 He claims to have rejected multiple bribe offers—up to $10 million in cash or jobs—since June, calling them “unethical” and “illegal.” 2 4 Sliwa has insulted critics like hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman as a “jerk” who “knows nothing about politics.”
How we started. - Andrew Cuomo (Independent Candidate): The former governor, who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations in 2021, is aggressively campaigning and sees Sliwa as a “spoiler” splitting the conservative/anti-socialist vote. Cuomo has publicly urged Sliwa to quit, saying it would be “very, very hard” for him to beat the frontrunner without a head-to-head matchup. 8 His allies include billionaires who’ve allegedly approached Sliwa with offers.
- Zohran Mamdani (Democratic Nominee): A progressive democratic socialist and state assemblyman, Mamdani is the clear frontrunner, leading polls by double digits. He’s relishing the infighting, tweeting that he and Sliwa oddly agree on one thing: “billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city.” Critics like John Catsimatidis fear Mamdani’s policies (e.g., on housing, policing, and taxes) would “ruin” NYC, driving the push to oust Sliwa.
- The Billionaires: A group of conservative donors, including:
- John Catsimatidis: Supermarket tycoon and Sliwa’s boss at 77 WABC radio; urged him on air to “do the right thing” and drop out if he can’t win, warning it would “hurt New York City.”
- Bill Ackman: Activist investor who publicly called for Sliwa’s exit on social media, claiming Cuomo could beat Mamdani one-on-one.
- Others like Sid Rosenberg (conservative radio host) have echoed the pleas, framing it as essential to stop Mamdani.
Background and Timeline
This drama intensified after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (a Democrat) dropped his reelection bid in September 2025 amid fundraising woes and federal investigations, clearing some space but not resolving the fragmented field. 0 Pressure on Sliwa ramped up:
- June–September 2025: Sliwa claims seven bribe attempts from Cuomo-aligned billionaires.
- Early October: Public endorsements for Cuomo from ex-Giuliani aides like Joe Lhota (who called Sliwa a “fruit loop”) and warnings from Catsimatidis.
- Mid-October: Post-debate, Cuomo ramps up attacks; a Gotham Polling/AARP survey shows Cuomo trailing Mamdani by just 3.9 points (within margin of error) if Sliwa exits.
- October 21–22: Catsimatidis and Rosenberg make on-air pleas; NY Sun publishes the headline article. X (formerly Twitter) buzzes with supporters praising Sliwa’s “principled” stance and critics calling him “selfish.”
Why It Matters
With the November 2025 election approaching, Sliwa’s persistence could siphon 10–15% of the vote from Cuomo, handing Mamdani an easier win. Polls show Mamdani beating Cuomo handily in multi-candidate scenarios but vulnerable in a direct duel. 5 The saga highlights tensions in NYC politics: progressive surge vs. establishment pushback, and debates over money’s role in democracy. Sliwa’s defiance has won him populist cred among some Republicans, but it’s alienated donors—potentially dooming the anti-Mamdani effort.
For the full NY Sun article, see here. The story is evolving rapidly as the election nears.
