(NewsNation) — Republican Curtis Sliwa is hoping to become New York City’s next mayor.
According to the latest polling averages from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill, Sliwa is just behind former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat running as an independent, just ahead of November’s election. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani leads both candidates in the polls.
Sliwa also ran for mayor in the 2021 race but lost to incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. He said he was offered money to drop out of this year’s race, but told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas he refused.
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Who is Curtis Sliwa?
In 1979, Sliwa founded the Guardian Angels in New York City, a nonprofit group that focuses on unarmed crime prevention methods in the city. The group was initially created to combat violence and crime on the New York City subway system, and trained its members to make citizens’ arrests.
Sliwa has had a career as a conservative radio talk show host spanning more than three decades, starting with a show on local station 77 WABC, which he continued to host up to his run for mayor. He has also hosted shows on other local radio stations.
What are Curtis Sliwa’s views on the war in Gaza?
Sliwa has been vocal about the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and pushed for the release of hostages taken by Hamas. He vowed to stand with Jewish New Yorkers in the wake of the attack and rising hate crimes against the Jewish community.
In a social media post last week, Sliwa marked the second anniversary of the attacks, again calling for the release of hostages and shedding light on the resulting war in Gaza, saying that deaths on both sides have been “deeply disheartening, and my prayers are with all families here in New York and abroad who continue to feel this pain.”
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What are Curtis Sliwa’s views on immigration?
Sliwa told Spectrum News NY1 he supported the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy of going after the “worst of the worst” illegal immigrants but that he “draws the line” at some other arrests.
“When ICE goes after the really bad gangbangers, the sex traffickers, ‘narcoterrorists,’ drug dealers, we’re going to work cooperatively,” Sliwa said. “But if they are going to raid the backs of restaurants, the hospitality industry, and parking lots of Home Depot, that’s where I draw the line.”
He also said that if elected mayor, he would leave the decision on whether New York City would remain a so-called “sanctuary city” up to the voters.
What are Curtis Sliwa’s views on crime?
According to his campaign website, Sliwa has vowed to make the city safe if he’s elected, promising to hire 7,000 additional officers with the New York City Police Department to “restore law and order.” He also said he plans to reinstate the NYPD’s Anti-Crime Unit and Conditions teams.
He said he wants to expand the department’s gang unit to dismantle violent street gangs and fight against efforts to eliminate the gang database.
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Who has endorsed Curtis Sliwa?
According to local outlet City and State NY, Sliwa has garnered endorsements from several Republican officials throughout his home state. Some of the most notable include Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, as well as former Republican New York Gov. George Pataki.
On Monday, Rudy Giuliani, who served as New York City’s mayor from 1994 until 2001, formally endorsed Sliwa, calling him a “hero for New York.”
The general election for New York City’s mayoral race is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
