As he pleaded for help from conservative voters Friday, Andrew Cuomo acknowledged will probably be “very, very, very hard” for him to win subsequent month’s mayoral election so long as Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa stays within the race.
Cuomo, who’s campaigning as an impartial within the Nov. 4 election and trailing Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani by double digits within the polls, made the remark throughout an look on discuss present host Sid Rosenberg’s WABC radio present.
Rosenberg’s present has a largely conservative viewers, and polls again up the concept Cuomo’s path to victory would all however actually require some help from Republicans, as Mamdani maintains a commanding grip on the Democratic citizens.
In that vein, Cuomo pleaded with Rosenberg’s listeners to vote for him as a substitute of Sliwa, a considerably stunning ask given Sliwa has proven no signal that he would drop out.
“He cannot win,” Cuomo stated of Sliwa, who’s polling in third place behind the ex-gov and Mamdani.
“You vote for Curtis, save yourself the time, and vote for Mamdani. That’s what this is.”
Conversely, Cuomo argued Mamdani may have no shot if Sliwa ends his “spoiler” marketing campaign.
“If Curtis is not in the race, I win and that’s the choice for the Republicans,” he stated.
Early voting within the mayoral election begins Oct. 25.
Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information
Zohran Mamdani participates in a reverse city corridor assembly at 32BJ SEIU headquarters on Friday in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information)
Sliwa, the founding father of the Guardian Angels who has his personal discuss present on WABC, stated Cuomo’s pitch reeked of “desperation” and urged him to step apart so he can alone tackle Mamdani.
“It’s over for Cuomo, and he should do himself a favor and drop out and let this race be between me and Zohran.”
Sliwa and Cuomo have each been adamant they received’t abandon their campaigns.
Cuomo acquired a slight increase within the polls after Mayor Adams, who was additionally operating as an impartial, ditched his bid for reelection late final month amid file low approval scores.
However Adams’ exit doesn’t look like sufficient for Cuomo.
By that ballot’s account, Cuomo would nonetheless path Mamdani by 10% even when he secures help from all of Sliwa’s voters.
Cuomo’s radio feedback got here the morning after the three candidates confronted off on stage on the first normal mayoral election debate.
Cuomo confronted broadsides in the course of the two-hour showdown from each Sliwa and Mamdani over numerous controversial elements of his file, similar to his 2021 resignation as governor amid sexual {and professional} misconduct accusations that he now denies.
The ex-governor punched again, primarily at Mamdani, searching for to painting him as ideologically excessive and inexperienced, however a few of his assault strains didn’t land as the controversy rapidly devolved into shouting matches.
Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information
Zohran Mamdani speaks to the media after collaborating in a reverse city corridor at 32BJ SEIU headquarters on Friday in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information)
Talking to reporters after a Friday morning city corridor occasion in Manhattan with native union members, Mamdani stated he agrees with Cuomo’s evaluation concerning the state of the race.
“I’d probably have the same acknowledgement if i was the governor after last night’s debate, which is that he has a very narrow path to winning this race because what New Yorkers saw is the fact that it’s more of the same with Andrew Cuomo,” he stated. “It’s more of the same with the affordability crisis, it’s more of the same with the style of politics.”
Initially Printed: October 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM EDT
