Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee for mayor of New York City, is under increasing pressure to withdraw from the race, with his billionaire friend and former employer, John Catsimatidis, publicly urging him to do so. This development aligns with an effort by former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his supporters who seek to consolidate support behind Cuomo, who is running as an independent candidate.
In an interview with WABC host Sid Rosenberg, Catsimatidis expressed his concerns about Sliwa’s viability in the race. “Look, I love Curtis,” he stated. “But Curtis has to realize that he should love New York more than anything else. And it certainly looks like Curtis should pull out right now.” He emphasized the urgency of preventing Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani from winning, referring to the state assemblymember as a “democratic socialist” from Queens.
This public call marks the first time Catsimatidis has urged Sliwa to step aside. The relationship between the two conservatives has strained as Sliwa’s campaign has progressed. Sliwa has worked for Catsimatidis as a radio host at WABC, although his current employment status has come under scrutiny. While Sliwa’s campaign confirmed he “quit” his position in February to pursue the mayoralty, Catsimatidis claimed he was still “on leave” from the station.
According to Sliwa’s campaign spokesperson, he is not currently receiving a salary. In a text message to Gothamist, Catsimatidis stated that whether Sliwa resumes his radio show after the election will depend on Sliwa’s decision.
As the campaign intensifies, polls indicate that Sliwa is trailing in a distant third place behind Cuomo and Mamdani, with early voting scheduled to begin on March 15, 2024. Catsimatidis’ comments reflect growing desperation among Cuomo’s supporters. Following a recent mayoral debate, Cuomo remarked on WABC that it would be “very, very, very hard mathematically” for him to win the election should Sliwa continue his campaign.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sliwa has consistently refused to drop out of the race. Over the weekend, he criticized Cuomo for assuming that Sliwa’s supporters would naturally back the former governor. “So I’m supposed to help them?” Sliwa questioned, adding, “How come they don’t help themselves?”
In light of Catsimatidis’ remarks, Sliwa’s campaign reiterated its stance. “Today’s news doesn’t change a thing,” said campaign spokesperson Daniel Kurzyna. He suggested that if Cuomo wanted support, he should earn it rather than rely on Sliwa’s withdrawal.
With the election looming, the dynamics among the candidates are likely to evolve further as each seeks to secure their position in this contentious race for mayor of New York City.
