Photo courtesy of Curtis Sliwa for NYC Mayor
A new poll from HarrisX shows the Republican nominee for New York City mayor, Curtis Sliwa, within reach of securing an election victory if the mayoral general election were held today, after he surged in the latest poll for the highly competitive race, positioning him as a serious contender against Democratic mayoral nominee Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (A.D. 36), former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who is running as an independent, and incumbent (former Democratic) NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent.
In a four-way race, the Sliwa campaign said the Republican nominee commands 22 percent of the vote “statistically tied with Mamdani (26 percent) and Cuomo (23 percent)” with Adams trailing at 13 percent, and 15 percent of voters undecided.
Reacting to the latest poll rankings, Sliwa said, “For the first time since 2009, a Republican for NYC mayor is within the margin of error to win. That Republican is me. The momentum is real. I’m running to be the People’s Mayor and I’m going to win on November 4th!”
Though many polls in the lead up to the Democratic mayoral primary had Cuomo leading and he went on to lose the race, nonetheless, this latest poll shows that it is, at least, a much tighter general election than in previous years. Adams won the 2021 general election with 67 percent of the vote to Sliwa’s 27.8.
Sliwa’s campaign said the HarrisX poll highlights what they describe as Sliwa’s growing appeal, particularly in a three-way race without Adams, where they say he would garner 28 percent of the vote today, and remain neck-and-neck with Mamdani (29 percent) and Cuomo (31 percent).
The Republican candidate’s team said Sliwa’s grassroots campaign, described as being rooted in his “decades-long commitment to public safety as the founder of the Guardian Angels,” a non-profit volunteer organization which has as its goal unarmed, crime prevention, “resonates with New Yorkers seeking a safer, more affordable city.”
His campaign team went on to say that the poll underscores Sliwa’s strength among voters frustrated with the status quo, as he continues to advocate for practical solutions to crime, housing affordability, and quality-of-life issues. They said, “Unlike his opponents, Sliwa’s campaign is free from the controversies and backroom deals that have plagued other candidates, positioning him as the clear choice for New Yorkers seeking bold, independent leadership.”
As reported, Adams was indicted on corruption charges before they were dismissed by the DOJ in what many believe was a quid pro quo with U.S. President Donald Trump, Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal in 2021, and Mamdani has faced criticism from the Jewish community for his use of the term “globalize the intifada.”
The assemblyman has since said he understands the term is offensive to the Jewish community and is discouraging its use, though he maintains its real meaning is not offensive. He has also drawn the ire of the Italian American community since an old photo of him giving the bird to a statue of Christopher Columbus began to circle online.
Additionally, Mamdani has previously called to “defund the police,” a contentious refrain which divides New Yorkers when it comes to the dual issues of public safety and the need to protect people of color from police brutality and in some cases, death. The assemblyman has also since revised his position on this term, as reported.
Sliwa’s team said in a poll ranking scenario without Cuomo, Sliwa also remains competitive, trailing Mamdani by just 10 points (Mamdani’s 35 percent to Sliwa’s 25 percent), with Adams further behind at 19 percent. They said such polling signals that the Republican nominee’s message of putting New Yorkers first is “cutting through the noise of a crowded race.”
James Perrone, Sliwa’s campaign manager, said, “Curtis Sliwa’s rise in the polls reflects a hunger for a mayor who listens to the people, not the elites. His lifelong dedication to New York City and his no-nonsense approach to tackling crime and affordability make him the candidate to beat.”
Meanwhile, his campaign team said that as the general election date of November 4th approaches, they are intensifying their outreach, with plans to engage voters across all five boroughs through community events, town halls, and a robust digital campaign. According to his website, Sliwa’s campaign is focusing on restoring public safety, a centerpiece of his previous, unsuccessful mayoral campaigns, addressing the affordability crisis, and bringing accountability to City Hall.
He said he plans to revive the City which he alleges has “abandoned” local small businesses by prioritizing corporate handouts while mom-and-pop shops struggle under rising costs and crime. “Politicians have only one answer: tax and spend your money & give tax breaks to billionaires/corporations,” he said.
The Republican said despite record spending, outer-borough neighborhoods continue to decline. “My administration will work with the comptroller to root out inefficiencies and corruption that drain resources from our communities,” he said. “Instead of wasting billions, we will reinvest in rebuilding and revitalizing business districts in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and The Bronx.”
He said tourism is concentrated in the wealthiest parts of the city, while working-class neighborhoods remain ignored. “We will invest in cultural hubs across all five boroughs, bringing economic opportunities beyond tourist hotspots and making NYC a city for all, not just for the elite.”
Sliwa added that his key initiatives include cracking down on crime, redirecting city incentives from corporate developers to local businesses, auditing city spending to eliminate corruption and waste, reinvesting those funds into rebuilding communities, and revitalizing local downtowns and commercial districts across the outer boroughs.
On public safety, Sliwa said he plans to rebuild the NYPD and crack down on crime, by recruiting, retaining and promoting cops, and said he
understands that a stronger NYPD starts with better recruitment, smarter retention policies, and a culture that rewards leadership and excellence. It’s been widely reported in recent days that 31 cops with a “troubling history” of arrests and drug use were unlawfully hired by the NYPD. A legal case is ongoing in relation to the issue.
Sliwa said he also plans to uplift the rank and file of the NYPD, and beyond hiring, said he will ensure officers already serving are respected, fairly compensated, and supported, on and off the job. He also plans to reinstate the NYPD’s Homeless Outreach Unit to provide a compassionate, structured response to homelessness in NYC and reform Internal Oversight & Standards. He said an effective NYPD must also be a fair and professional one, both internally and in the eyes of the public.
The NY Daily News reported on July 16 that former NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon, who grew up in Norwood, has sued the mayor and top, current and former NYPD officials, alleging they operated a “corrupt enterprise” that “rewarded cronies and punished enemies at the expense of both the public and rank-and-file police officers,” according to a copy of the lawsuit.
The Republican candidate said he will also create a long-term plan for crime reduction since he alleges there is no such plan right now to “dramatically” lower crime in the City. He said every politician reacts to crime, but no one has a real, multi-year strategy to fix it.
Sliwa said he will end the cycle of repeat offenders, strengthen public safety and law enforcement legislation, reform or repeal city laws that inhibit effective policing, strengthen the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP)’s Office with appropriate funding and staffing levels, independent from the City’s five district attorneys’ offices, and advocate for an independent Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office.
When contacted, a representative from the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor said the SNP is appointed by the City’s five district attorneys and has its own budget, funded primarily by the City. We also reached out to Bronx DA’s office for comment and will share any feedback we receive.
Sliwa said he also plans to enhance the district attorneys’ offices, themselves, to prosecute criminals by increasing funding for them to hire more assistant district attorneys (ADAs), paralegals, and staff to manage rising caseloads. He said these actions will create a permanent task force, led by the police commissioner with DAs and NYPD brass, “to continually identify and resolve problems in the arrest-to-prosecution pipeline, and develop real-time feedback systems from DA offices to help officers produce evidence and paperwork that meet discovery standards and facilitate successful prosecutions.”
The Republican candidate also plans to reform the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), combat retail theft, and crack down on illegal street racing and ATV gangs, educate the public on crime prevention, and support auxiliary officers and community safety partners.
On housing, Sliwa said he plans to empower community boards, local residents, and their city council members to guide local housing decisions, ensuring development serves residents, not corporate interests. “Locals can identify areas where housing can be built to assure the development does not obstruct the fabric of the community while adding more housing,” an extract from his campaign website reads.
Source: Interactive Polls via X
Sliwa also plans to incentivize the rehabilitation of vacant, rent-controlled units (an estimated 26,310 units), and get them back on the market now, increasing housing supply without “unnecessary” new construction delays, expand the availability of rent-stabilized units for working families and seniors on fixed incomes, and amend the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development’s 421-a tax code to prioritize small landlords who want to create affordable rental units. The 421-a tax incentive is a partial tax exemption for new multiple dwellings.
Sliwa plans to revise what he describes as the unfair system where corporate developers receive 40-year tax abatements while small homeowners see their taxes increase. “Small landlords often struggle with squatters, preventing many potential homeowners from renting extra space in their home,” an extract from his website reads. “Therefore, I support the legislative efforts to finally assure squatters do not receive tenant protections.”
The Republican candidate plans to reevaluate outdated “manufacturing” zones to allow for new residential developments while maintaining community character to promote efficient development, repeal the Adams administration’s “City of Yes” program to return zoning decisions to local communities, and ensure residents have a say in their neighborhoods, preventing unchecked gentrification and displacement.
He said the current (federally defined) Area Median Income (AMI) system misrepresents true affordability by failing to factor in the “unavoidable costs of living,” which is why many working New Yorkers continue to struggle despite supposedly “affordable” housing options. He said as mayor, he will implement policies that provide relief now, not a decade from now. Norwood News had previously raised this point with former Democratic mayoral candidate Rev. Michael Blake. See his response here.
Sliwa said that rather than handing control to corporate developers, he will ensure that zoning decisions prioritize affordability and community stability. “Instead of relying solely on new high-rise developments, we must focus on revitalizing existing spaces, supporting small landlords, and protecting middle-class families from being priced out of their own neighborhoods,” he said.
On education, he plans to reform NYC Department of Education’s spending, which currently has a budget of $40 billion for 2025, which he said breaks down as $32,284 per student. He said despite this, schools continue to decline, teachers are forced to pay for supplies out of pocket, and bureaucrats “waste money on bloated administration and failed programs.” [To read some of our recent reporting on the topic of education, click here].
As mayor, Sliwa said he will “invest in classrooms, not bureaucrats,” end wasteful spending, stop mismanaging taxpayer money while schools crumble, audit the DOE to eliminate inefficiencies and redirect funds directly to enhancing student curriculums, expand vocational training and give students alternative paths to success beyond college, support working families, and reduce financial barriers that prevent kids from staying in school.
He said his education plans also include “protecting the SHSAT” [Specialized High Schools Admissions Test] and keeping merit-based admissions for specialized high schools “to ensure hardworking students have a pathway to success.”
Sliwa said he will also expand gifted and talented programs so that all students from all backgrounds can excel, increase funding for supplies, technology, and classroom resources and pay teachers more, not have them paying out of pocket for supplies, increase teacher salaries, and attract top teacher talent to schools.
He also plans to address truancy by motivating students, reviving arts, sports and environmental programs to keep kids in school.
Norwood News has reached out to Sliwa’s campaign to ask how he intends to fund his various policies and will share any updates we receive.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
This was the best and most comprehensive article about improving the quality of life for New Yorkers.
The city is desperately in need of positive change in several areas for its residents and to bring back tourism.
Mr Sliwa has a long history of community support and deserves support for his candidacy.