Republican Mayoral Candidate Vows to Stay in Race
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa is determined to stay in the race, despite calls for him to drop out following Zoran Mamdani’s surprising success in the Democratic primary against former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Sliwa expressed his unwavering commitment on Thursday, stating, “I’m focusing on one thing: winning this race and saving New York City from the corruption and collapse he created.” He made it clear he sees himself as the only contender capable of defeating Mamdani.
Meanwhile, sources indicated that Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, hasn’t abandoned his aspirations to claim Sliwa’s spot on the GOP ticket for the general election. On Wednesday, Adams reassured donors that he was still aiming for a position, suggesting that Sliwa might withdraw due to his previous work in the Trump administration.
There is growing concern among Republicans, corporate leaders, and even moderate Democrats regarding Mamdani’s potential victory. Sliwa’s counter-arguments paint Adams’ claims about his political future as desperate. “It’s hilarious when Eric Adams tells donors I’m heading to the White House,” he remarked, highlighting a sense of disbelief about Adams’ strategy.
Even if Cuomo continues his campaign, opinions suggest that he may not pose a significant threat to Mamdani’s momentum. Meanwhile, Adams views Mamdani’s success as an opportunity to boost his own reelection prospects and is presenting himself as a viable obstacle to socialist candidates.
In the complex maneuvering surrounding the GOP line, Adams must gain backing from three of the five Republican county chairs. If he fails, Sliwa’s candidacy could remain intact. A GOP insider mentioned that Adams has been actively reaching out to these chairs in recent days, but the responses have not been favorable.
Complicating matters further, Staten Island Republican Chairman Michael Tannausis claimed he hasn’t heard of any overtures from Adams, adding skepticism about the mayor’s strategy. The island, seen as the Republican stronghold, favored Sliwa significantly in the past election against Adams.
John Catsimatidis, a billionaire Republican and ally of Adams, expressed doubt about Sliwa dropping out, emphasizing that Sliwa’s continued presence is still significant.
