Defiant Sliwa says 'I am not dropping out' of NYC mayor race: 'Under no circumstance'

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Curtis Sliwa declares, 'I am not dropping out' of NYC mayor race

Republican Curtis Sliwa said he is not dropping out of New York City's mayoral race during a press conference outside a Manhattan subway station on on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.

Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa rejected calls for him to withdraw from the race on Tuesday.

Sliwa was defiant during a morning press conference outside a Manhattan subway station, after many political observers called on him to withdraw from the race in order for Andrew Cuomo to defeat the Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani.

"So let's be very clear. I am not dropping out. Under no circumstance. I've already been offered money to drop out, I said no. Distant from that, with threats against Nancy and myself, I now have to have armed security with me, former NYPD officers. Never had that in my life," Sliwa said Tuesday.

One commuter walking by the press conference yelled, "Drop out already!"

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Sliwa lashed out at Cuomo, arguing the independent candidate was not putting real effort into his campaign. Instead, he said, Cuomo was simply relying on Sliwa to drop out of the race.

Asked whether he would prefer Cuomo or Mamdani to win the race, Sliwa told Fox News that they are "two peas in a pod."

"These Democrats, both of them are Democrats that led us down to this path of destruction," he said.

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Several prominent figures have called on Sliwa to withdraw, including billionaire John Castimatidis, who is CEO of WABC Radio and Red Apple Media.

Catsimatidis, a Republican who launched his own mayoral campaign in 2013, cited concerns "that Sliwa’s continued candidacy could split the vote and inadvertently help another candidate."

Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani compete for NYC mayor. (Getty Images)

"Catsimatidis said 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," a press release from his office said.

Sliwa rejected the push at the time, telling Fox News Digital, "The billionaires can conspire to pick their candidate… I trust the people. They will make the decision. I will not drop out."

Sliwa is currently on a leave of absence from WABC Radio, where he has worked for decades, while running for NYC mayor.

Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa found unlikely common ground on the campaign trail on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Getty)

Mamdani has appeared amused by the situation, however.

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"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," the democratic socialist said.