John Catsimatidis, the billionaire CEO of WABC Radio and Red Apple Media, has stepped forward with a direct plea for Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa to exit the New York City mayoral race. This comes amid growing fears that a divided field could hand the keys to City Hall over to Democratic contender Zohran Mamdani, whose radical agenda threatens to push the city further into chaos.
Catsimatidis, a Republican who once ran for mayor himself in 2013, expressed concerns “that Sliwa’s continued candidacy could split the vote and inadvertently help another candidate.” He added that the move is essential to consolidating support behind a ‘viable alternative’ and avoiding what he described as a potentially damaging outcome for the city if the vote remains divided.
Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a longtime voice on WABC Radio—currently on leave during his campaign—faces mounting pressure from within his own circles. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman echoed the sentiment earlier, warning that unless Sliwa bows out, “we are toast.”
With the election set for November 4, 2025, these calls reflect a strategic push to rally behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, to counter Mamdani’s surge.
Recent polls paint a stark picture. A Gotham Polling/AARP New York survey released on Monday indicates that in a head-to-head matchup without Sliwa, Cuomo could seriously challenge Mamdani, who currently leads in a three-way race. Another Quinnipiac poll from October 9, 2025, shows Mamdani ahead overall, but the numbers tighten dramatically if conservative votes unify.
Betting markets like Polymarket give Mamdani a commanding edge now, but insiders whisper that shadowy progressive networks are inflating his support through questionable tactics, aiming to install a leader who aligns with their anti-police, pro-open borders vision.
The race intensified after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams abruptly dropped out amid federal investigations, leaving Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa to battle it out. Their October 16, 2025, debate at 30 Rock exposed deep rifts: Mamdani defended his democratic socialist roots and calls to defund the police, while Cuomo positioned himself as a no-nonsense enforcer of law and order, and Sliwa hammered on street crime. Critics argue that Mamdani’s ties to far-left groups, including his vocal support for boycotts against Israel, signal a dangerous shift toward policies that could embolden criminals and weaken America’s greatest city.
Behind the scenes, some speculate that Adams’ exit was no accident—perhaps orchestrated by elite forces eager to clear the path for Mamdani, whose platform echoes the globalist agendas that have already eroded public safety in places like San Francisco and Seattle. Cuomo is viewed as the lesser of two evils.
If Sliwa stays in, the split could deliver NYC into the hands of those who prioritize ideology over security, leaving residents to pay the price in rising crime and economic decline.
As the clock ticks toward Election Day, Catsimatidis’ intervention serves as a wake-up call: unity among those who aren’t radically insane might be the only thing that could stop Mamdani.
