6 Reasons Why Curtis Sliwa SHOULD Drop Out of the NYC Mayor’s Race
Bronx Voice
October 22, 2025
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NEW YORK - Curtis Sliwa has never been one to back down. From founding the Guardian Angels to running for mayor (again), he’s built his entire image around being the tough New Yorker who doesn’t take orders from anyone. But this time, maybe he should.
6 Reasons Why Curtis Sliwa Isn’t Dropping Out of the NYC Mayor’s Race — No Matter What Anyone Says
With the 2025 NYC mayoral race heating up, and pressure mounting from both party insiders and donors, it might actually make sense for Sliwa to step aside. Here’s why.
1. The Odds Just Aren’t in His Favor
Let’s be honest: the numbers don’t lie. Poll after poll shows Sliwa stuck in a distant third place, well behind Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo.
At this point, his chances of pulling off an upset are about as slim as finding an empty subway car during rush hour.
Sure, he’s got enthusiasm and energy — but enthusiasm doesn’t win elections when the math isn’t there.
2. He’s Splitting the Anti-Mamdani Vote
This is the big one. Every vote Sliwa gets is likely a vote that isn’t going to the leading non-progressive candidate — and that could hand the race to Mamdani.
If the goal is to prevent a far-left win, staying in might actually help guarantee it.
In other words: by refusing to drop out, Sliwa might accidentally deliver the exact outcome he’s campaigning against.
3. Even His Allies Want Him Out
It’s not just the media saying it — some of Sliwa’s closest allies and biggest supporters are asking him to leave the race.
Republican power player John Catsimatidis (who also happens to be Sliwa’s boss at WABC Radio) has publicly urged him to quit. Billionaire Bill Ackman has said the same.
When your own side is practically begging you to stand down, it’s probably worth listening.
4. His Past Keeps Getting in the Way
Sliwa’s been around for decades, and that means a lot of old stories — not all flattering — tend to resurface whenever he runs.
From the early Guardian Angels publicity stunts, to off-the-cuff remarks that don’t land well in today’s NYC, his record gives opponents plenty of ammunition.
That baggage makes it hard for him to expand beyond his core base, which is crucial if you’re going to win a city as diverse as New York.
5. He Might Be Hurting His Own Cause
Here’s the irony: Sliwa and his supporters want to steer the city away from progressive policies — but his staying in could make that harder.
If Mamdani wins because the anti-progressive vote is split between Sliwa and Cuomo, the policies Sliwa opposes will only gain ground.
Sometimes, stepping back helps the mission more than staying in the fight.
6. He Could Gain More by Leaving Gracefully
There’s a smart way to bow out, and it doesn’t have to look like surrender.
If Sliwa were to drop out now and throw his support behind a stronger contender, he could reshape the race — and earn a lot of political goodwill in the process.
That move could position him as a kingmaker, not a spoiler. It would show strategic maturity and preserve his influence for the next big moment.
Curtis Sliwa has always been a fighter, but sometimes the smartest move isn’t to fight harder — it’s to fight smarter.
Right now, the numbers, the strategy, and even his allies are all pointing in one direction: it’s time to step aside.
Doing so wouldn’t make him weak — it might just make him the bigger man.
And in a city built on bold moves, that could be the most powerful one he’s ever made.
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