Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, announced Tuesday that he will remain in the contest despite mounting pressure from prominent GOP figures urging him to withdraw.
“So, let’s be very clear: I am not dropping out, under no circumstances,” Sliwa stated.
The Guardian Angels founder revealed he has faced financial incentives to exit the race, adding, “I’ve already been offered money to drop out, I said no.”
The pressure campaign includes influential Republican businessman John Catsimatidis, who publicly called for Sliwa to abandon his candidacy.
Catsimatidis urged the GOP nominee to support former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo instead.
Current polling data suggests Cuomo could defeat socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani in a head-to-head matchup if other candidates withdrew from the race, Resist the Mainstream previously outlined.
This scenario has fueled efforts by moderate voices to consolidate support behind a single alternative to Mamdani.
Mamdani secured the Democratic mayoral nomination after defeating Cuomo in the party’s primary election earlier this year.
The socialist candidate’s victory in the primary sparked concerns among more centrist Democrats and Republicans about the direction of city leadership.
The calls for candidates to drop out have persisted for months as strategists seek to prevent a Mamdani victory. However, Sliwa has maintained his position as the official Republican nominee throughout the pressure campaign.
Despite opposition from her father, Andrea Catsimatidis has backed Sliwa’s continued candidacy.
As chair of the New York GOP, she represents a significant voice within the state’s Republican establishment.
The New York Republican committee issued a statement supporting Sliwa’s campaign, The Post Millennial reported.
“Republicans across every borough stand united behind Curtis Sliwa for Mayor of New York City. Republican voters are not going to vote for Andrew Cuomo,” the committee declared.
The committee further emphasized its position by describing Sliwa as the party’s chosen standard-bearer.
“Curtis Sliwa is our candidate, the credible leader who will defeat the radical left and restore safety, affordability, and common sense to City Hall. He is our candidate to defeat Zohran Mamdani on November 4th,” the statement continued.
The current mayoral race features three remaining candidates after recent developments altered the field.
Both Cuomo and current NYC Mayor Eric Adams chose to run as independent candidates rather than seeking their respective party nominations.
Adams has since withdrawn from the mayoral contest, leaving Sliwa, Cuomo and Mamdani as the only candidates competing for City Hall.
Resist the Mainstream highlighted Monday that the survey conducted by Gotham Polling and the city AARP found that 44.6 percent of New Yorkers would support Mamdani in a two-way race against Cuomo, who would capture 40.7 percent of the vote.
The poll surveyed 1,040 likely voters over a two-day period last week, and the findings suggest that older voters may ultimately decide the election’s outcome.
The New York Post reported that according to the survey, 78 percent of undecided city voters are age 50 or older.
This demographic could prove pivotal for Cuomo’s chances, as younger New Yorkers continue to favor Mamdani.
Stephen Graves, president of Gotham Polling & Analytics, emphasized the importance of this voting bloc.
“The decisive factor in this race may be the older voters who haven’t yet made up their minds,” Graves said.
“If the contest narrows to two leading candidates, the 50-plus electorate—by far the most reliable voting bloc—will likely determine who becomes the next mayor of New York City.”
