Former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, who also founded the Guardian Angels, is now facing accusations of not paying his campaign workers after placing third in the 2025 mayoral election, according to a newspaper report.
During the final stretch of his campaign against Zoran Mamdani, multiple campaign team members claimed to the publication that the time spent on door-to-door canvassing and phone banking left them in financial distress, owed wages that they never received.
One ex-employee mentioned he was about $2,000 short, calling it “unfortunate for someone who professed integrity and reform.” Another individual, Alonzo Henderson, expressed feeling deceived, stating, “When someone promises you something, especially when you’re making changes, you have to keep that promise.”
Republican operatives from within the city voiced to the newspaper that the situation has created considerable frustration among lower-ranking party officials. “The biggest source of complaints is the hourly recruiters. They really need the money,” said a Republican insider.
Sliwa’s team has pushed back against the claims of unpaid workers. Spokesperson Rob Cole informed the publication that, “Everyone will receive a paycheck,” asserting that the delay is due to verification processes mandated by the New York City Campaign Finance Commission.
When asked for clarification, Sliwa indicated that workers who submit timesheets would be compensated by December 1 and described the validation process as “standard procedure,” while staunchly denying any wrongdoing regarding compensation.
This dispute arises despite his campaign’s sizeable budget. As per the Campaign Finance Commission, Sliwa managed to raise close to $7 million, including over $5 million from public matching funds, and had roughly $1.7 million remaining at the campaign’s conclusion.
Ultimately, Sliwa garnered only 7% of the vote in the November 4 election, trailing behind Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent.
This allegation of nonpayment has reignited scrutiny over a pattern of financial controversies surrounding Sliwa in recent years. Notably, in 2023, The Daily Beast reported on a lawsuit filed by his ex-wife, Mary Patterson, against him for over $530,000 in unpaid child support, accusing him of not adhering to court-ordered payments.
Amid these challenges, some Republican activists expressed frustration, feeling that these issues compromise Sliwa’s credibility, particularly given his self-portrayal as a champion of everyday New Yorkers.
Sliwa, known for his founding role in the Guardian Angels during the 1970s and running on a law-and-order platform, is now confronted with claims from former campaign workers that he hasn’t fulfilled his promises. As of now, he hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
