The 2025 New York City mayoral race is shaping up to be a definitive clash between three men: incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Despite the noise and distraction surrounding other names, particularly Andrew Cuomo, the reality is this: the only candidates who matter—and the only ones who voters should take seriously—are Adams, Mamdani, and Sliwa. That’s it. That’s the race.
Let’s start with the facts. Eric Adams is the sitting mayor. No incumbent in modern NYC history has simply “stepped aside” because someone else thought they polled better. Adams has built an administration, is running on his record, and now seeks to make his case for re-election—not as a Democrat this time, but as an independent. Whether voters agree with his performance or not, his presence in this race is a political and institutional reality.
Curtis Sliwa, who captured 28% of the vote in the 2021 general election, returns as the Republican nominee. This wasn’t a contested decision—he was unanimously endorsed by every Republican county committee in the city. He’s a known quantity, a consistent voice for decades on public safety and community concerns. He has a clear base of support and a track record of speaking directly to voters, which makes him a legitimate contender. Like Adams, he earned his place in this race and there is no reason anyone should expect him to step aside.
Then there’s Zohran Mamdani, the socialist Assemblymember from Queens who shocked the political establishment by decisively winning the Democratic primary—defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo by a full 12%, despite Cuomo enjoying sky-high polling numbers, matching funds, and a $25 million super PAC. Mamdani earned his win the old-fashioned way: campaigning hard, engaging directly with voters, and presenting a clear and unapologetic socialist vision. He did what Cuomo didn’t: show up and actually run.
Which brings us to Cuomo, who continues to try to inject himself into this race through media leaks, staged videos, and so-called “secret” campaign stops. He refuses to release a public schedule because he doesn’t want the press—or the public—to attend these tightly scripted appearances. Instead, he relies on edited footage from his personal video team to create the illusion of a campaign. It’s pure gaslighting. Cuomo is trying to convince New Yorkers he’s actively campaigning, when in reality he’s still hiding—avoiding real engagement, avoiding the streets, and avoiding the people. That’s not a campaign; that’s theater. By contrast, Adams, Mamdani, and Sliwa are out in public, engaging voters face-to-face. They don’t hide. They don’t campaign in secret. They’re earning their place on the ballot the hard way—by actually showing up.
Now the general election looms, and New Yorkers have three real choices: Adams, Mamdani, and Sliwa. These are the names on the marquee. Democrats who don’t support Mamdani have every right to vote for Adams or Sliwa in November. Republicans already have their nominee. And independent voters—as always—will be free to make up their own minds, unbound by party loyalty.
The next four months must be about engagement. Every community—from Black Americans and Caribbeans to East and South Asians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Africans, and White working-class voters—deserves to be heard and prioritized. The candidates must engage voters from all religions as well—Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and people of all faiths. The mayor of New York City must represent every New Yorker, regardless of background or belief.
The stage is set. Adams, Mamdani, and Sliwa are the ones who earned their place on it. Everything else is just noise.
