Mayor Candidates Discuss Ranked-Choice Voting and Election Strategy
New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani recently acknowledged that he would place his Republican opponent Curtis Sliwa second in a ranked-choice voting scenario for the general election. In response, Sliwa expressed that if Mamdani wins, he would “regret knowing Curtis Sliwa’s name.”
After a debate, when asked if he could collaborate with Mamdani if he becomes mayor, Sliwa made it clear that, should Mamdani win, he would instead mobilize opposition. “I may very well become his worst nightmare,” Sliwa stated.
Sliwa, differentiating himself from former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is now an independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary, asserted his commitment to New York. He stated, “I was born in New York…I’ll die in New York.” In contrast, he accused Cuomo of planning to leave the state if Mamdani wins.
Interestingly, despite their differences, both candidates have united against the influence of billionaires in the mayoral race, specifically targeting calls from billionaires like John Catsimatidis and Bill Ackman for Sliwa to withdraw in favor of Cuomo. Sliwa emphasized, “I trust the people. They make the decisions,” while indicating he has no plans to back down.
Mamdani, somewhat surprised by this agreement, remarked that he never anticipated he would stand alongside a Republican on this issue. “The Republican and Democratic candidates are the only candidates to come here and agree that billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city,” he noted.
The political landscape is heating up with less than two weeks before Election Day, scheduled for November 4. A recent poll indicated that if both Adams and Sliwa were to step back, Mamdani would remain in the lead, enjoying 50% approval compared to Cuomo’s 37%. Despite the rising support for Cuomo, Sliwa has reiterated his commitment to his campaign.
As Election Day approaches, the candidates are ramping up their rhetoric in a bid for voter support, especially following the retired Mayor Eric Adams’ decision not to seek re-election.
