Sliwa Refusing To Drop Out
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa is standing his ground, rejecting calls to abandon the New York City mayoral race despite heavy pressure from political elites and media insiders.
“I don’t know how many times I have to say it — I’m the only Republican candidate. I’m the law-and-order candidate,” Sliwa declared on The Hill on NewsNation from Staten Island. “Why would I want to drop out?”
With crime, homelessness, and taxes surging under Democratic leadership, Sliwa insists his campaign offers a genuine alternative for frustrated New Yorkers tired of chaos and corruption.
Sliwa Defends His Campaign Against the Political Establishment
Polls from Decision Desk HQ show Sliwa currently at 17%, down from his 28% showing in 2021. Yet Sliwa argues that the fight for New York’s future can’t be decided by “billionaires, influencers, and insiders.”
“This election belongs to the people of New York — not the power brokers,” he said.
The race has already seen record early-voting turnout, nearly five times higher than four years ago. Progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, are battling for control of City Hall.
Trump Weighs In: “Better a Democrat Than a Communist”
President Donald Trump recently weighed in on the race, predicting Sliwa “is not going to win” but taking direct aim at Mamdani — calling him a “communist.”
“I’d rather have a Democrat than a communist leading New York,” Trump said, suggesting Sliwa’s continued presence could benefit Cuomo.
But Sliwa hit back, saying if anyone should step aside, it’s Cuomo — who was crushed in the Democratic primary, losing by 13 points after leading by 40 earlier this year.
“You don’t win elections by hiding in luxury suites with billionaire donors,” Sliwa fired back.
Sliwa Slams Cuomo and Mamdani Over Crime and Soft-on-Crime Policies
Sliwa, a longtime advocate for law and order, blasted Cuomo for being “the architect” of New York’s disastrous no-cash-bail laws. He labeled Mamdani “Cuomo’s apprentice,” accusing both of turning the city into a haven for criminals.
“I’m giving voters an alternative — safety, sanity, and common sense,” he said.
Mamdani spent the weekend rallying with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, energizing the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.
House Republicans swiftly pointed out that Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Mamdani confirms what conservatives have warned for years: socialism is now the face of the Democratic Party.
Even Elon Musk weighed in on X, saying Mamdani represents “the future of the Democratic Party.”
A Different Path: Sliwa Calls for Negotiation Over Confrontation
Breaking with President Trump on one point, Sliwa said he favors negotiation over confrontation if federal funds are ever cut to the city.
“You sit down with the president, or whoever he assigns, and you try to negotiate,” he said. “You don’t punish the people of New York because you don’t like the mayor.”
Former Gov. Cuomo, who’s been off the campaign trail for days, said the high turnout reflects “fear, anger, and frustration” among voters who “just want a mayor who can do the job.”
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
Early voting runs through the weekend, with Election Day set for November 4th.
For many New Yorkers, the choice is clear:
- A return to law and order, lower crime, and common sense under a Republican who still believes in the city’s potential.
- Or another four years of progressive chaos, socialist experiments, and out-of-touch leadership from the Democratic left.
Sliwa summed it up best: “This race isn’t about politics. It’s about saving New York City.”
