The editorial boards of both the New York Post and the New York Daily News are urging Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa to withdraw from the race, arguing that his continued candidacy could help Zohran Mamdani win. Both editorials emphasize that Sliwa has no realistic path to victory, with the Republican base in New York City too small to deliver a win.
The Post editorial states that Sliwa has “zero chance of winning,” with recent polls showing him in third place, far behind the front-runners, while Andrew Cuomo narrowly trails Mamdani. The Daily News emphasizes that stepping aside would give New Yorkers a clear one-on-one choice between Mamdani and Cuomo, while the Post stresses that Sliwa’s continued candidacy could prevent Cuomo from overtaking Mamdani.
Sliwa is described as an oddball by the Post, noting his proud red beret and decades-long role as a public gadfly. Both outlets suggest that the Republican Party did not cultivate a more competitive candidate, leaving Sliwa as the nominee despite his limited political and city-management experience.
Prominent figures aligned with Sliwa have also weighed in. John Catsimatidis, CEO of WABC Radio and Red Apple Media, explained on his WABC program that Sliwa “would make the best mayor of all the candidates … but Curtis has to realize that he should love New York more than anything else.” Radio host Sid Rosenberg added that “it certainly looks like Curtis should pull out right now. We cannot take a chance on Zohran winning, and every common-sense New Yorker feels the same way.”
Both editorials frame Sliwa’s potential withdrawal as a matter of civic responsibility rather than personal failure. The Post emphasizes that Sliwa worked hard on the campaign, but in a city where the Republican base is small, staying in the race could inadvertently benefit Mamdani. The Daily News echoes this sentiment, urging Sliwa to “do what is best for the city he loves” by stepping aside.
