The Republican nominee for mayor, Curtis Sliwa, has remained resolute about staying in the race, despite pressure to drop out from billionaires, centrist Democrats, conservative media outlets and President Trump.
The calls for his exit to consolidate opposition to the Democratic front-runner, Zohran Mamdani, have increased since Mayor Eric Adams left the race in late September. Around that time, Mr. Sliwa reported receiving offers in the six figures to quit so that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running on an independent line, would have a better chance.
“No, no, no. A thousand times no,” Mr. Sliwa said. “I can’t be bought. I can’t be leased. I can’t be rented. I am not corruptible.”
Currently polling in the high teens, far behind Mr. Cuomo and even farther behind Mr. Mamdani, Mr. Sliwa is a long shot to win in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans six to one. Polling shows that if he were to drop out, the race between Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Mamdani would be more competitive, but Mr. Cuomo would still be lagging behind.
In the last week, more people have piled on Mr. Sliwa, imploring him to quit. Mr. Cuomo went on WABC, the conservative talk radio station where Mr. Sliwa formerly hosted a show, to call Mr. Sliwa a “spoiler.” John Catsimatidis, a New York grocery magnate who owns WABC, said, “Curtis should pull out right now. We cannot take a chance on Zohran winning.” The editorial board of The New York Post wrote, “It’s time for Curtis Sliwa to face reality.”
Over the last few months, Mr. Sliwa has come up with many colorful ways to say no.
If he’s alive, he’s running
“I’m not getting out of this race unless they figure out a way to put me in a pine box and bury me six feet under.”
— Interview with Politico, June 27, 2025
He would have to get hit by a truck
Mr. Sliwa said the only way he leaves the race is if “a Mack truck hits me and I get turned into a speed bump, and they can’t recover me in the I.C.U. That’s the only way.”
— Interview with amNewYork, Oct. 1, 2025
He would rather be impaled
Mr. Sliwa responded to pleas for him to drop out and endorse Mr. Cuomo by saying, “I would say, ‘impale me.’”
— Interview with Fox Across America, Oct. 20, 2025
He wants to let the people decide
“Men have died in battle for the right to vote, and not so that billionaires or landed gentry or the professional political class will pick the next mayor.”
— News conference, Sept. 29, 2025
He’s the nominee of a major party
“The people need to accept I’m the Republican candidate. The time to have challenged me was the Republican primary. I am not dropping out. I am a mainstream candidate.”
— Interview with 1010 WINS, Oct. 7, 2025
He has lots of fans
“I have support. I have 11 headquarters. I have volunteers everywhere, signs galore. I don’t see any Cuomo signs, and plus, I have a get-out-the-vote effort, which is what you need to win elections.”
— News conference, Oct. 20, 2025
He has no interest in quitting
“Let’s be very clear: I am not dropping out, under no circumstances.”
— News conference, Oct. 21, 2025
Ashley Cai is a graphics reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class.
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