Former three-term Republican Governor George Pataki believes that Curtis Sliwa, the GOP mayoral candidate, has a real shot at winning city hall.
Pataki noted, “This is the weakest Democratic field we’ve seen.” He feels that Sliwa, at 71, has the funding necessary to make his campaign competitive and to appeal not just to Republicans but also to dissatisfied Democrats.
“Curtis understands this city better than anyone,” Pataki remarked, emphasizing Sliwa’s familiarity with neighborhoods and the subway system.
He praised Sliwa’s campaign fundraiser scheduled for June 26 at Fushimi Times Square, which takes place just two days after the Democratic primary.
Co-hosted by state Republican Chairman Ed Cox and the NYGOP Asia Caucus, the event is set to accept donations ranging from $250 to $2,100 for Sliwa’s campaign.
According to GOP Insider, Sliwa aims to challenge incumbent Mayor Eric Adams by running independently instead of participating in the Democratic primary, thereby drawing away Republican support.
Adams, meanwhile, is pursuing re-election on an independent platform after bypassing the Democratic primary.
Pataki believes that Sliwa’s background and reliability, stemming from his volunteer work with the Guardian Angels, give him a solid foundation for a tough campaign.
He pointed out that recent Republican mayors, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg, had significant successes, stating, “They were the best mayors in the last 50 years, and both were Republicans.”
On the subject of the Democratic primary, Pataki suggested that if Zohran Mamdani emerges as the candidate, mainstream Democrats might struggle against Sliwa given the substantial differences in their platforms.
If frontrunner Andrew Cuomo wins the primary, Pataki thinks he could face a diverse electorate that might not react favorably to his past controversies, including his resignation and allegations of misconduct, which he has denied.
Notably, Pataki pointed out that many traditional Democrats might find themselves aligned with Sliwa should the far-left Mamdani secure the nomination.
While incumbent Adams faces his own scandals, it’s worth mentioning that the federal corruption allegations against him have been dismissed since Trump’s presidency began.
Pataki expressed doubts about candidates on an independent line having a realistic chance of being selected.
Having first been elected in 1994, Pataki defeated Mario Cuomo, the late father of Andrew Cuomo. He remains the last Republican to hold a statewide office in New York.
