New Yorkers, because the mayoral race is heating up with a clash of titans that could rival any Broadway drama! Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee and founder of the Guardian Angels, has thrown down the gauntlet against Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, promising a relentless fight if the 34-year-old assemblyman claims victory on Election Day, set for November 4, 2025, as Fox News reports.
With less than two weeks until the big vote, this contest between Sliwa and Mamdani has turned into a fiery showdown, punctuated by a heated final debate on October 22, 2025, at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, while both candidates surprisingly align against billionaire meddling in the city’s future.
Let’s rewind a bit to earlier this week, before the debate, when both candidates held separate press conferences in Manhattan on Monday, staking their claims and rallying their bases. Sliwa, never one to shy away from a fight, made it clear he’s in this race to stay, while Mamdani pushed his progressive vision just blocks away.
Interestingly, despite their ideological chasm, both men found a rare patch of common ground in rejecting the influence of deep-pocketed players. Two billionaires, Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman, have urged Sliwa to step aside for independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani earlier this year. Sliwa, predictably, scoffed at the idea, doubling down on his commitment to the race.
“The billionaires can conspire to pick their candidate. I trust the people. They will make the decision. I will not drop out,” Sliwa declared, brushing off the elite pressure with the grit of a true New Yorker (Curtis Sliwa). Well, isn’t that a refreshing jab at the ivory tower crowd trying to play kingmaker in our city?
Meanwhile, Mamdani echoed a similar disdain for billionaire interference, albeit with his own left-leaning spin. “I never thought I would say this, but here we are, where the only candidates who agree that billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city are the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee,” he noted (Zohran Mamdani). While it’s a nice soundbite, one wonders if this fleeting unity can survive the ideological battlefield ahead.
Fast forward to October 22, 2025, when the final debate at LaGuardia Community College saw Sliwa’s supporters rallying outside, waving signs and chanting for their candidate. Inside, the sparks flew as the two nominees traded barbs over their visions for New York City’s future.
Sliwa didn’t hold back, painting Mamdani as a potential disaster for the city and vowing to be a thorn in his side if the voters choose the Democratic socialist. It’s clear he’s not just running to win, but to ensure certain progressive policies don’t go unchecked.
Mamdani, for his part, took a surprising turn by admitting he’d rank Sliwa as his second choice in a hypothetical ranked-choice voting scenario. It’s an odd olive branch, likely a subtle dig at Cuomo, but it raises eyebrows about how deep their supposed agreement really runs.
With Election Day on November 4, 2025, fast approaching and early voting kicking off on Saturday following the debate, the pressure is mounting for both candidates. A recent Fox News survey from October 10-14, 2025, shows Mamdani holding a strong lead at 50% against Cuomo’s 37% if Sliwa and suspended incumbent Mayor Eric Adams are out of the picture. But Sliwa’s refusal to bow out keeps this race a three-way brawl.
Cuomo, running as an independent after his primary loss, remains a wildcard, especially with billionaire backing. Yet, Sliwa’s steadfast resolve to stay in the fight could split the conservative-leaning vote, a risky game for those wary of Mamdani’s far-left agenda.
Let’s be honest: Mamdani’s progressive policies might sound utopian to some, but they risk burdening taxpayers and reshaping the city in ways many hardworking New Yorkers might not stomach. Sliwa, with his street-level perspective, seems poised to counter that with a no-nonsense approach, even if his rhetoric sometimes borders on theatrical.
Sliwa’s promise to be Mamdani’s “worst nightmare” if elected isn’t just campaign bravado; it’s a signal of organized resistance against what he sees as a dangerous shift in city governance. For conservatives, this tenacity is a rallying cry against unchecked progressive ideals.
As the clock ticks down to November 4, 2025, New Yorkers face a stark choice between Sliwa’s tough-on-crime, traditionalist stance and Mamdani’s bold, socialist-leaning reforms. The debate may be over, but the real fight is just beginning. Will the city embrace change or cling to a grittier, more familiar path?
