Republican New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa argues the end result of the town’s election might have implications past the 5 boroughs.
In an interview Tuesday with CBS Information, Sliwa drew a pointy distinction between himself and his two predominant opponents, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“New York Metropolis is the epicenter of capitalism on this planet,” stated Sliwa.
And, he argues, if voters elect Mamdani, “it’ll encourage different younger democratic socialists of America” to “take over their metropolis authorities legally by successful within the poll field.”
All through the marketing campaign, Sliwa has routinely criticized Mamdani’s proposed insurance policies and affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Sliwa additionally had harsh phrases for Cuomo on Tuesday, blaming “horrific will increase in crime” within the metropolis on Cuomo’s insurance policies as governor, together with state legal guidelines that ended money bail for some prison fees and raised the age of prison duty.
Stated Sliwa: “I am the one one standing between Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, who I name Zohran lite.”
A Republican candidate hasn’t gained a mayoral election in deep-blue New York Metropolis in 20 years. However on this 12 months’s race, the GOP nominee might play an outsized function. Mamdani defeated Cuomo within the Democratic major, however Cuomo stayed within the race on a third-party ticket. Since then, Cuomo and his allies have referred to as on Sliwa to drop out, arguing that the 2 candidates are splitting the anti-Mamdani vote — a cost Sliwa has pushed again on.
In an Oct. 9 ballot from Quinnipiac College, Mamdani led with 46% assist, adopted by Cuomo with 33% and Sliwa with 15%. The ballot was taken after incumbent New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race.
The race has drawn the eye of President Trump. Sliwa has additionally confronted criticism from the president, who stated in September, “Curtis just isn’t precisely prime time,” and poked enjoyable at Sliwa’s dozens of rescue cats. Mr. Trump has railed towards Mamdani, too, calling him a “communist” and implying that federal funding to the town might be minimize if he wins.
“I would not be beneficiant to a communist,” the president stated this week.
In response to the president’s criticisms of him, Sliwa suggested Mr. Trump — one other native New Yorker — to remain targeted on worldwide crises, relatively than New York Metropolis.
“Each time he will get concerned on this mayoral election, he strengthens Zohran Mamdani,” stated Sliwa. “They do not need to marketing campaign towards me or Andrew Cuomo. They need to marketing campaign towards Donald Trump.”
The Trump administration has taken purpose on the metropolis and New York state, accusing native leaders of failing to cooperate with Mr. Trump’s immigration agenda and of following variety, fairness and inclusion practices that the administration alleges are unconstitutional. The federal authorities froze $18 billion earmarked for 2 high-profile Manhattan tunnel initiatives, citing DEI, and it tried to revoke tens of millions in counterterrorism grants for the town’s subway system.
Individually, the Trump-backed “One Massive Lovely Invoice Act” restricts Medicaid and meals stamps, which might hit locales all through the nation.
Sliwa warned, “There will likely be cuts,” however that he would attempt to “restrict the destructive affect.”
“We simply have to verify they do not damage people who find themselves desperately in want,” Sliwa stated.
That is Sliwa’s second consecutive marketing campaign for mayor, but it surely follows many years within the public eye as an activist, a radio host and the founding father of Guardian Angels anti-crime group. He is recognized on the marketing campaign path for his trademark crimson beret, which has lengthy symbolized his Guardian Angels roots — however he stated he is keen to place it apart.
“If that have been the one purpose to not elect me,” he stated, “I will take the crimson beret, put it in storage, and I will by no means put on it once more. However you gotta elect me mayor first.”
