Emotions have been flaring this week as many Republicans and conservatives concerned about Marxist Zohran Mamdani being the next mayor of New York City have called on Republican Curtis Sliwa to drop out. They believe that Independent leftist candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo is the only person who can beat Mamdani and Sliwa is splitting the vote.
Among the most vocal advocates for Sliwa’s exit is hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. He and other NYC billionaires have allegedly even offered money to Sliwa in exchange for backing Cuomo, though those reports are unconfirmed.
Now, Ackman believes he has uncovered the reason why Sliwa won’t leave. On an X post, he said:
I spoke to someone who knows @CurtisSliwa and now I understand why he is staying in the race.
The City has an 8 to 1 matching program for NYC donors. Sliwa got ~$5m of matching funds from the city for his campaign.
According to my source, Sliwa’s wife, friends and others are on the campaign payroll, and he and they are enjoying living off the city taxpayers who are funding his race/lifestyle. He doesn’t want to end his campaign and have to return the funds.
Follow the money.
When I asked why he doesn’t care about NYC? my source said:
‘He doesn’t give a sh-t.’
Clearly, this is hearsay, but my source is extremely credible and a highly respected person, and he knows Sliwa well.
Curtis, please correct the record if I got anything wrong.
What personal or other related expenses is your campaign paying for?
Is your wife and/or other family or friends on the campaign payroll or receiving any funding?
Please clarify the record.
Reactions to Ackman’s post were mixed. Those who have supported Sliwa are calling Ackman a liar while those who have called for Sliwa to drop out are joining Ackman in pointing fingers.
Recent polls have shown Cuomo gaining ground on Mamdani. All but one poll in October show Mamdani below a unified Cuomo-Sliwa vote. But supporters of Sliwa have noted that a low percentage of Republicans would vote for Cuomo even if Sliwa endorsed him. They wouldn’t show up at all, which would hurt Republicans in other races.
Sliwa has not responded to Ackman’s accusation as of the posting of this article. We will update it if more is revealed.
I don’t care is the biggest crook in the world, he’s still a million times better than Commie-Momdani and mass murderer of elders Andrew Cuomo.