Cuomo Appeals to NYC Conservatives in Mayoral Race

On Tuesday, Andrew Cuomo encouraged New York City Republicans and conservatives to support him over Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the mayoral election, humorously asserting, “I don’t have horns.”

Speaking on a right-leaning radio show, he warned that a vote for Sliwa would only pave the way for Zoran Mamdani, the leading Democratic candidate, to win.

“I want my listeners to vote for me,” Cuomo expressed to Sid Rosenberg on WABC 77 Radio’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning.”

In a lighter moment, he quipped again, “I don’t have horns. I want voters to vote for me.” When asked if he might consider giving Sliwa a position in his administration should the Guardian Angels founder step back, Cuomo seemed open to the possibility.

“Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s something that interests me,” he remarked. He went on to mention his respect for Sliwa and his team, applauding their understanding of the city’s transport systems.

Despite this, Cuomo maintained that Sliwa was merely a spoiler candidate, predicting that votes for Sliwa would ultimately benefit Mamdani in the upcoming election.

“He is not viable. A vote for Mr. Curtis is a vote for Mr. Mamdani—we all know that,” Cuomo stated clearly.

His appeal mirrored one made to Republican lawmakers just days earlier on WABC’s “Cats Roundtable,” where the station’s owner, John Catsimatidis—who previously employed Sliwa—urged him to withdraw in favor of Cuomo.

Current general election polls show Cuomo lagging behind Mamdani significantly, yet still leading Sliwa. Some recent polls suggest Cuomo could narrow the gap in a head-to-head matchup.

The former governor, who lost to Mamdani in June’s Democratic primary, faces challenges, partly because the anti-Mamdani votes are split between him and Sliwa.

At a breakfast event, Cuomo insisted he remains in the race to win, despite facing criticism about his campaign’s effectiveness.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he questioned at a Society for a Better New York gathering, expressing his desire to take on the mayoralty.

“I’m scared of New York City; I’ve never felt anything like that before,” he admitted on air, labeling Mamdani as “horrible.”

Moreover, reporters noted that Cuomo had not been particularly active around the city’s neighborhoods compared to Sliwa, who regularly engages in numerous public events each day.

Cuomo reiterated his call for support, stating, “I know what I’m doing. I’m actively reaching out to all his constituents.”

In contrast, Sliwa affirmed on Tuesday his commitment to remain in the race. “Let me be clear: I’m not leaving under any circumstances,” he remarked, adding that despite offers of financial incentives to quit, he declined.

Additionally, five Republican borough presidents, including Andrea Catsimatidis, have publicly backed Sliwa. Sliwa is set to take part in the final mayoral debate on Spectrum NY1 on Wednesday, with early voting starting this Saturday.