Billionaire Influence Rejected by New York Mayoral Candidates
As Election Day approaches in just two weeks, Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa have found an unexpected agreement: they both reject the influence of billionaires in New York City’s mayoral race.
Two prominent billionaires, John Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple Media, and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, have been urging Sliwa to exit the race. Their goal? To create a clearer path for independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
During a press conference in Manhattan, Sliwa expressed his distrust of billionaire meddling, stating, “Billionaires can collude to choose candidates. I trust the people. They make the decisions. I will not be expelled.”
Mamdani, surprised by this alignment, remarked, “I never thought I’d say this, but the Republican and Democratic candidates are the only candidates to come here and agree that billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city.”
At the same event, Catsimatidis publicly urged Sliwa to withdraw, suggesting that doing so would benefit the city. He emphasized, “Mr. Curtis will be the best mayor of all the candidates…but Mr. Curtis must realize that above all else he must love New York,” further stating that it might be best for Sliwa to step aside. Sliwa, however, firmly reiterated he would not leave the race.
In a recent Fox News poll conducted from October 10-14, voters were asked about their second-choice candidate. The results indicated that if both Sliwa and current Mayor Eric Adams were out of the picture, Mamdani would still maintain a strong lead against Cuomo.
Specifically, if Sliwa were not in the race, Mamdani’s approval rating could hit 50%, whereas Cuomo might only garner 37%. Cuomo claimed that voters would switch to supporting him if they realized Sliwa would inadvertently benefit Mamdani’s campaign.
When asked who would be accountable should Mamdani win, Sliwa pointed the finger at Cuomo: “We blame Andrew Cuomo.” Regarding the “spoiler” label Cuomo assigned him, Sliwa remarked, “I would suggest to Andrew Cuomo that he stop this nonsense. You are the ones to blame for Zoran Mamdani. You got hit hard in the Democratic primary.”
Mamdani recently addressed a viral clip of Sliwa’s remarks about remaining in the race, highlighting the importance of voter choice in democracy and poking fun at the idea of a billionaire candidate living elsewhere.
Sliwa, responding to the billionaires’ interference, questioned their understanding of New York City, stating, “What does Ackman in Chappaqua know about New York City?” He argued that their influence only boosts Mamdani’s chances.
Both candidates, despite their differing political affiliations, are united in their desire for New Yorkers to decide their own future rather than having it dictated by wealthy donors. Mamdani concluded that it’s essential for the city’s future to be shaped by its residents, not outsiders.
Fox News Digital reached out to Cuomo for a statement but did not receive an immediate response.
