Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa faces growing pressure to drop out of the 2025 New York City mayoral race due to fears that his candidacy could split the conservative vote. Polling cited by The Wall Street Journal shows front-runner Zohran Mamdani leading comfortably in a three-way race, but his lead narrows if Sliwa withdraws, positioning Andrew Cuomo as Mamdani’s main challenger.
Republican candidate Sliwa under pressure to withdraw from mayoral race
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, center, speaks during a mayoral debate with independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)