Curtis Sliwa’s mayoral campaign is facing mounting pressure from two of New York City’s most influential editorial boards, which are calling on him to step aside for the good of the city. Both the New York Post and the New York Daily News argue that Sliwa’s continued run could unintentionally aid Zohran Mamdani’s path to victory.
The Daily News editorial praised Sliwa’s humor and visibility on the campaign trail but said that his “fun” should come to an end. The paper urged him to make the “honorable, but tough, decision” to withdraw, allowing voters to choose clearly between Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. A recent poll it cited showed Mamdani leading with 44.6% of the vote, followed by Cuomo at 40.7%, while Sliwa trailed far behind.
The Post took a sharper stance, declaring that Sliwa has “zero chance of winning.” It argued that keeping his name on the ballot would only split the moderate vote and risk handing the mayoralty to Mamdani. While acknowledging that Sliwa has worked hard and campaigned across the city, the paper described him as “an oddball” with limited experience managing a city government.
Supporters close to Sliwa have also voiced concern. Businessman and WABC Radio owner John Catsimatidis said that while Sliwa “would make the best mayor,” he should put New York first by stepping back. Radio host Sid Rosenberg echoed that sentiment, warning, “We cannot take a chance on Zohran winning.”
Together, the two editorials portray Sliwa as a dedicated but unrealistic contender whose exit could clarify the race and prevent a split among voters opposing Mamdani.
