Democrats are overwhelmingly in the mayoral election in New York City, a sign of the city’s deeply liberal bent. However, a Republican could change the outcome of the election.
Prior to the November 4 election, candidate Curtis Sliwa has refrained from appealing to some top conservatives, which should increase the chances for former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after being defeated in the Democratic primary in June.
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Some political observers believe that Zohran Mamdani’s departure will give Cuomo the best chance to defeat him in the Democratic Socialist party’s frontrunner race.
According to Rusat Ramgopal, Sliwa’s deputy campaign manager, “New Yorkers are tired of Andrew Cuomo, but Andrew Cuomo doesn’t seem to understand when “no” means “no,” making a sharp reference to the sexual misconduct allegations that forced Cuomo to step down as governor of New York State in 2021.
Sliwa has also struck both of his rivals.
During the final mayoral debate on October 22, he said, “Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin, and Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City.”
Sliwa falsely claimed during the final debate that the leading candidate supports “global jihad,” using the same Islamophobic tropes that Mamdani’s critics have perpetuated.
Local performer or subway hero?
Curtis Sliwa, then, who is he? Sliwa has been plagued by this question ever since he became well-known as the leader of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-fighting organization known for its patrols of the New York City subway system.
Supporters have endorsed the group’s do-it-yourself ethos, which Sliwa started in 1979 as a 24-year-old night manager at a McDonald’s in the Bronx. He is still regarded as the epitome of New Yorkers taking action when the city’s administration fails, insisted by many.
People “think about public safety and subway safety when they see that red beret.” They are aware of his contributions to the city, Ramgopal said.
He is a larger-than-life figure who has, to this point, contributed greatly to New York life.
Others have accused the Guardian Angels of fortifying a dangerous style of vigilantism, saying they don’t carry weapons. Additionally, the organization has been criticized for allegedly demonizing immigrants, falsely accusing people of crimes, and racial profiling.
Sliwa has frequently condemned “migrant” crime on the campaign trail.
Sliwa admitted in 1992 that he had fabricated some crimes to gain publicity, but the authenticity of the group’s exploits has been scrutinized.
Sliwa has previously served as a radio host, media personality, and candidate for local politics.
What platforms does he use?
Unsurprisingly, Sliwa’s campaign focuses on public safety, particularly in the transit system. Sliwa argued that the city is “facing a crisis of crime, lawlessness, and failed leadership” despite the drop in crime.
According to his website, he has pledged to “enhance proactive and intrusive policing strategies to target illegal firearm carriers, repeat offenders, and violent criminals before crimes occur,” along with 7, 000 new New York Police Department (NYPD) officers, re-up controversial police units, and re-up controversial ones.
Critics claim that these tactics have historically resulted in more racial profiling, over-policing of minority communities, and civil liberties violations.
He has also pushed for affordability, a problem that has been a hot topic this election cycle, and pledged to reform the city’s current system to better coordinate with programs for affordable housing.
Sliwa, who owns several cats, has also made animal protection a crucial component of his campaign.
What qualities does he possess that his supporters admire?
Sliwa, who is the only right-wing candidate in the race, enjoys strong support from registered Republicans, who make up 11% of New York’s 4 7 million electors.
He continues to woo new supporters despite having gained popularity decades ago.
Shan Singh, a 30-year-old cab driver from Richmond Hill, Queens, told Al Jazeera, “His work with the Guardian Angels has resonated a lot with me.”
In the presidential election of 2024, Singh, who had previously supported Democrats, switched to Republican Party and US President Donald Trump. He thinks that the recent protests in the city are risky.
He added that Sliwa’s polls-related defeat does not make him lose his vote.
Despite the statistics, Curtis “smears to me as the person who seems most real,” he said.
Before the first mayoral debate in midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn resident Russell, 28, made a request that his last name be kept private.
He claimed that both Cuomo and Mamdani were too anti-crime, and that their support for bail reform initiatives, which aim to end low-level criminal justice cases and prevent widespread incarceration, was unfair.
Because there are no repercussions for it, Russell said, “it encourages criminals to keep committing crimes.”
Has he a chance of winning?
Sliwa lacks a genuine path to victory, lacking a miracle. He received 14% of likely voters, according to the most recent Quinnipiac University poll. That outperformed the 43 percent and 33 percent support provided by Mamdani and Cuomo.
Cuomo has worked so hard to get out of the race because of this. A vote for Sliwa is essentially a vote for Mamdani, according to the former governor, who has made numerous phone calls to conservative voters.
If Sliwa were to leave, Cuomo even left the door open for him to take over the presidency.
The appeals have so far been unsuccessful. How many of Sliwa’s steadfast supporters would be willing to cross party lines, also, is a mystery.
