By: Kayley McNoor

As New York’s turbulent mayoral race barrels toward an unpredictable November showdown, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa has made one thing unequivocally clear: he’s not going anywhere.

With Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary sending shockwaves through New York’s political landscape, The New York Post reported on Thursday that a sudden panic has seized the city’s political and financial elite. Faced with the prospect of a fractured opposition helping to usher in a Mamdani mayoralty, some insiders are scrambling to pressure Sliwa to abandon his bid — and clear the path for a centrist consolidation. But the red-beret-wearing founder of the Guardian Angels is having none of it.

“I’m focused on one thing: winning this race and saving New York City from the corruption and collapse [Eric Adams] created,” Sliwa told The New York Post on Thursday. “He’s not running against a fantasy. He’s running against me. I’m the only one capable of beating Zohran Mamdani and I’m going to do it.”

Mamdani’s victory has not only shocked political observers but thrown the general election into a state of strategic chaos. In November, voters could face a crowded field including Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams — now running as an independent — Republican Curtis Sliwa, reform-minded independent Jim Walden, and possibly even Andrew Cuomo, should he continue his campaign as an independent as some have speculated.

The New York Post report revealed that high-level donors and political players, including Republicans and moderate Democrats, are alarmed by the fractured anti-Mamdani vote. Some are now floating improbable — even legally dubious — efforts to consolidate the race behind Adams, with Sliwa being urged to step aside, perhaps for a rumored role in a second Trump administration.

But Sliwa ridiculed the suggestion.

“It’s laughable that Eric Adams is telling donors I’m headed to the White House,” he said. “He’s clearly panicked.”

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, Adams and his allies have been lobbying hard behind the scenes to poach the Republican line for the general election — a prize that would simplify the electoral math and give him a legitimate shot at stopping Mamdani. The problem? New York State election law doesn’t make party-switching easy.

To seize the GOP nomination, Adams would need support from at least three of the city’s five Republican county chairs, or Sliwa would need to die, become a judge, or move out of the city. None of those scenarios appear likely. A source close to GOP leadership confirmed to The Post that Adams had been “big time” pushing to replace Sliwa, but without success.

“It’s immense pressure,” one Republican insider told The New York Post. “(Adams) is still calling around to county chairs as recently as yesterday… They are telling him no, he had his chance and they are behind Curtis.”

Staten Island Republican Chair Michael Tannousis confirmed that no overtures from Adams had reached him. Staten Island, which delivered a decisive victory for Sliwa over Adams in the 2021 mayoral contest, remains the party’s stronghold in the city.

In 2021, Adams handily defeated Sliwa, winning 67% of the vote to Sliwa’s 28%. But the 2025 race is shaping up to be an entirely different political animal.

This time, the threat comes not from Sliwa or Adams alone, but from a rising hard-left insurgency in Mamdani, whose victory has been compared to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 shock primary win over Joe Crowley. Mamdani’s unapologetically socialist platform, fiery opposition to immigration enforcement, and polarizing views on Israel have galvanized a younger, more radical wing of the Democratic electorate — but also terrified moderates, centrists, and business leaders.

The New York Post reported that some major Republican donors, including billionaire John Catsimatidis — a key Adams ally — have pushed behind the scenes for Sliwa to exit the race. Yet even Catsimatidis admits the attempt is likely futile.

“I don’t think Curtis is getting out,” he said.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Jim Walden has garnered attention among reformist circles, but lacks the name recognition or institutional support to seriously challenge Mamdani or Adams. Cuomo, once the dominant figure in New York politics, has become politically radioactive since his resignation and, according to The Post, is widely seen as a nonfactor despite some speculation he may remain in the race.

For Adams, Mamdani’s primary victory may represent a final opportunity to regain political relevance. Reeling from a year of declining popularity, ethics investigations, and intra-party strife, Adams appears to be positioning himself as the moderate bulwark against Mamdani’s brand of progressive politics.

“The Adams campaign views Mamdani’s win as an opportunity to resurrect his candidacy,” a Democratic strategist told The New York Post. “He’s now casting himself as the only candidate who can stop a socialist from taking over City Hall.”

But whether Adams can unify the anti-Mamdani forces — or peel off enough institutional support from Sliwa — remains to be seen. According to The Post, Adams’ inner circle has denied rumors of backroom deals to entice Sliwa with a Trump administration job. Todd Shapiro, an Adams campaign spokesman, dismissed the speculation.

“That’s simply not true. Whoever is spreading that is not being honest,” Shapiro told The Post. “There has been no conversation between Mayor Adams, Curtis Sliwa, or President Trump about any job offer. These are just rumors that don’t deserve serious attention—we’re focused on delivering real results for New Yorkers.”

Despite the maelstrom of political pressure swirling around him, Sliwa remains unwavering. For the streetwise activist who founded the Guardian Angels in the crime-ridden New York of the 1970s, this is familiar territory. A populist at heart with a talent for headline-grabbing theatrics, Sliwa sees himself as the lone candidate truly capable of uniting the city’s working-class, outer-borough base against Mamdani’s socialist wave and Adams’ floundering incumbency.

“I’m not for sale,” Sliwa said flatly, brushing off talk of a coordinated push to sideline him. “This is a fight for the soul of New York, and I intend to win it.”

As The New York Post has documented in detail, the political drama continues to intensify. With just months remaining before voters head to the polls, New York faces a rare mayoral race with no clear front-runner, fractured loyalties, and existential stakes.

Will Mamdani ride the momentum of a progressive revolution? Will Adams maneuver himself back into the center lane? Or will Curtis Sliwa — the perennial outsider — prove to be the spoiler, or the unexpected victor?

One thing is certain: he’s not going anywhere.