Curtis Sliwa, the 71-year-old Republican candidate for New York mayor, is refusing to step aside despite multiple lucrative offers, including a $10 million post, that could have removed him from the race and potentially helped consolidate opposition against the frontrunner, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Sliwa claims these offers were made on behalf of his second-place rival, former governor Andrew Cuomo, though Cuomo’s office has denied the allegations, calling Sliwa “a liar and a fraudster.”
A Brooklyn native and founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer subway patrol group from the late 1970s, Sliwa has long cultivated a controversial but high-profile public persona. His campaign, now in a city overwhelmingly Democratic, has him polling third with 15 percent, behind Mamdani at 46 percent and Cuomo at 33 percent. Despite the uphill battle, Sliwa insists he will not withdraw, citing ethical concerns about inducements and threats and noting that his security has been heightened as a result.
Sliwa’s history of public service and media presence bolsters his defiance. He has been a radio host since the 1990s and previously ran for mayor in 2021, capturing nearly 28 percent of the vote. He also survived an apparent mob assassination attempt in 1992 and remains a vocal populist Republican, portraying himself as a defender of “workers, not billionaires.”
In interviews, Sliwa has pushed back against criticism from Donald Trump, who mocked his mayoral bid and ridiculed his interest in rescuing cats. Sliwa credits that visibility for rallying supporters, particularly animal lovers, to his campaign. He portrays his candidacy as an effort to “save the city” rather than as a reaction to political rivals, emphasizing that his focus is on challenging both Mamdani’s grassroots mobilization and Cuomo’s elite backing.
Political analysts suggest that Sliwa may be positioning himself as a “power broker” or kingmaker, leveraging his refusal to step aside to extract concessions from opponents or secure a City Hall role. His campaign continues to highlight his stark contrast with his competitors, framing Mamdani as an energetic, youth-driven candidate and Cuomo as aligned with wealthy elites, while he maintains his populist outsider appeal.
