Curtis Sliwa likens himself to Braveheart in the New York City mayoral election

Curtis Sliwa Approaches New York City Mayoral Race with Confidence

Curtis Sliwa claims he’s heading into the concluding phase of the New York City mayoral race channeling the spirit of Braveheart. He radiates confidence and defiance, prepared to fight for the city he has deep affection for.

Known for his strong stance on crime and his vocal nature, Sliwa compared himself to a well-known freedom fighter during a recent conversation. He emphasized that he would persist in battling Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani and his so-called socialist allies, irrespective of the outcome on Tuesday.

The founder of the Guardian Angels mentioned that while Mamdani’s supporters—referred to as “Zofranistas,” a nod to Nicaragua’s Sandinista movement—might flee the city if Mamdani doesn’t win, he believes the candidate will remain and continue to advocate for New York.

“Even if I lose, my resolve remains,” Sliwa stated. “I stand firm, I don’t back down.”

“The Zoranistas are already gearing up to escape. They claim that as soon as we take charge, they will sell up and leave. Then we will govern this city.”

Drawing a parallel to a pivotal moment in the film “Braveheart,” featuring Mel Gibson as William Wallace, Sliwa highlighted a scene where Wallace, facing execution, refuses to plead for mercy. Instead, he defiantly tells the executioner to “do your job.” Sliwa connected that to his own stance, suggesting, “I embody that spirit.”

“I am the Royal Opposition to Zoran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America—like AOC. I will be their worst nightmare. Republicans don’t surrender; that’s more of a Democratic trait,” he asserted.

Sliwa expressed great confidence as voting day approaches. With what he calls an unprecedented grassroots effort, he said, “We’ve established 13 campaign headquarters across five boroughs. Nobody’s ever done this before. We are everywhere. This city is ready for real New Yorkers again.”

Dismissed were the findings of a Fox News poll indicating a 15% approval rating for him, while Mamdani led at 47%. Sliwa argued those statistics don’t convey the city’s true sentiments, especially regarding crime concerns.

“No sensible person would see Zoran Mamdani as a law-and-order candidate. I see myself as Rudy Giuliani 2.0,” he commented. “Polls don’t elect officials; the people do.”

He claimed he had received offers of $10 million from billionaire donors to step out of the race and mentioned now traveling with armed security due to threats received against him and his wife.

“I am the genuine New Yorker in this race. Born here, I’ve faced death here, and I will die here,” said Sliwa. “I’ve tried to take him down before, but here I am, fighting until the end.”

Sliwa, a 71-year-old Brooklyn native, famously survived a mob-related attack in 1992 where he was shot multiple times. Afterward, he jumped out of a taxi to escape. Authorities noted that the attack had ties to the Gambino crime family, with John Gotti Jr. allegedly approving the hit.

Positioning himself as a Republican populist, Sliwa aims to appeal to blue-collar workers and animal rights advocates. He has made headlines for his independent “animal rights” voting line, recognizing his work in animal rescue.