Andrew Cuomo calls Curtis Sliwa a ‘spoiler,’ urges GOP voters to back him over Zohran Mamdani

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made a direct appeal to Republican voters, urging them to support him instead of what he called “spoiler” Curtis Sliwa to defeat Zohran Mamdani in the upcoming mayoral race, as reported by the New York Post.

During his appearance on John Catsimatidis’ WABC 770 AM show, 'The Cats Roundtable,' on Sunday, October 20, Cuomo was blunt. “Curtis can’t win,” he said.

He argued that supporting Sliwa would only help Mamdani, adding, “A vote for Curtis is a vote for Zohran.”

Andrew Cuomo urges voters to back him over Curtis Sliwa 

With the mayoral race tightening, Cuomo is appealing to Republicans to abandon Sliwa and rally behind him to block Zohran Mamdani’s path to victory. In his interview with John Catsimatidis, Cuomo said, “The problem is Curtis Sliwa is a spoiler in the race. A vote for Curtis Sliwa is really a vote for Mamdani.”

“Curtis cannot win,” Cuomo insisted. “Seventy percent of the voters are Democrats. There’s no poll that shows him close. What he can do is take enough votes to make Zohran the mayor. And he is going to make Zohran the mayor if he doesn’t pull out. It will be on Curtis,” he added.

Cuomo accused Sliwa of lacking affection for the city, telling listeners, “Curtis doesn’t love New York.” He continued, “I want to say to your Republican listeners, vote like a New Yorker, not like a Republican. A vote for Curtis is a vote for Zohran. Vote like a New Yorker and stop Zohran.” 

Calling out Sliwa for allegedly helping Mamdani’s campaign by staying in the race, Cuomo said Sliwa “should be called out” for paving the way for his opponent’s victory. Appealing to GOP voters, Cuomo invoked former Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia’s words, saying, “There’s no Republican or Democratic way to pick up the garbage. Republicans want the city run well. I will do that."

Andrew Cuomo appeals to Republicans ahead of early voting

Cuomo’s appeal comes just nine days before early voting begins on Saturday, October 25, ahead of Election Day on November 4. The second and final mayoral debate is scheduled to air on NY1 on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 pm.

According to a Fox News Digital poll, Cuomo is currently in second place behind Mamdani, while Sliwa trails both candidates with less than half of Cuomo’s projected votes.

During a heated New York City mayoral debate on Thursday, October 16, Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa faced off on stage. Cuomo went on the offensive, warning that if Mamdani became mayor, Donald Trump would “take over” New York City

He mocked Mamdani’s limited experience, claiming the assemblyman had “literally never had a job,” and dismissed him as a “first-timer.”

Cuomo invoked past crises to question Mamdani’s readiness for office, referencing 9/11 and the pandemic as examples of challenges that demand seasoned leadership. “If the assemblyman is elected mayor, Donald Trump will take over New York City and it will be Mayor Trump who runs New York,” Cuomo said. “He has literally never had a job. God forbid a 9/11 or a health pandemic happens while he’s in office. This is not a job for a first-timer.”