(NewsNation) — Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa said he will not drop out of New York City’s mayoral race despite trailing in polls and facing pressure to withdraw, insisting voters should decide the election rather than “billionaires, influences and insiders.”
“I don’t know how many times I have to say it. I’m the only Republican candidate. I’m the law and order candidate,” Sliwa said during an interview on “The Hill on NewsNation” from Staten Island. “Why would I want to drop out?”
Sliwa’s polling average currently stands at 17%, according to Decision Desk HQ, nearly half his 28% showing when he lost the mayoral race four years ago.
The race has drawn extraordinary early voting turnout, with roughly five times as many ballots cast compared to 2021, as progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo battle for City Hall.
President Donald Trump recently suggested Sliwa “is not going to win” and questioned whether his continued candidacy helps Cuomo against Mamdani, whom Trump labeled a “communist.” Trump said he would “rather have a Democrat than a communist” leading the city.
But Sliwa dismissed calls to exit, arguing that if anyone should withdraw, it’s Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary by 13 percentage points in June after leading by 40 points in March. Sliwa noted Cuomo has been off the campaign trail for 10 days since Labor Day.
“You don’t win elections by just hanging out in the suites with your billionaire friends,” Sliwa said.
The Republican candidate criticized both his Democratic opponents on crime, calling Cuomo “the architect” of no-cash bail policies and describing Mamdani as Cuomo’s “apprentice.” He positioned himself as offering voters “an alternative choice.”
Mamdani held a rally in Queens over the weekend alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, energizing progressive supporters.
House Republicans have seized on Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Mamdani, claiming it shows democratic socialism is now the face of the party. Elon Musk wrote on X that Mamdani is “the future of the Democratic Party.”
Sliwa also broke with Trump on how to handle potential federal funding cuts to New York City, advocating negotiation over confrontation. Trump has threatened to cut $7 billion in funding if Mamdani wins.
“You sit down with the president, or whoever he assigns to the task, and you try to negotiate,” Sliwa said. “Don’t hurt the city because you don’t like the mayor.”
Cuomo described the high turnout as reflecting “fear,” “anger” and “frustration” in the city, saying New Yorkers “want a mayor that can do the job.”
Early voting continues through the weekend, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 4.
