Curtis Sliwa says ‘organizer’ Zohran Mamdani has a clear mandate as NYC mayor: ‘He won a majority’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani became the 112th mayor of New York City on Thursday, December 1. After the election, his opponent, Curtis Sliwa, shared his reaction. Sliwa said that Mamdani 'has a clear mandate' as mayor. He also described the young Democrat as a 'great organizer.'

Sliwa was present at Mamdani’s oath ceremony. Andrew Cuomo, another rival from the mayoral race, did not attend the event. Mamdani took office after being officially sworn in as mayor. He made history as city’s first Muslim mayor and the first mayor of South Asian descent.

Curtis Sliwa acknowledges Zohran Mamdani’s victory and calls on voters to support the new mayor

Curtis Sliwa was one of the candidates in the NYC mayoral race, running against Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani secured a victory, finishing well ahead of both Sliwa and Cuomo. After Mamdani took office, Sliwa was asked to share his views on the outcome.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sliwa was asked, “Will you ask New Yorkers who voted for you to give Zohran Mamdani a chance?” He responded, “Absolutely. He won a majority. He has a mandate." "The Masters of the Universe, the billionaires, did everything they could to make sure he wasn’t the mayor. It didn’t work. He’s a great organizer," he added.

For those unaware, Sliwa ran as the Republican candidate in the 2025 NYC mayoral election. This marked his second straight unsuccessful bid for the city’s top job. He received approximately 7 percent of the total votes. During the campaign, critics argued that his presence in the race complicated the path to victory for the Democrat Cuomo, as per the publication.

Zohran Mamdani takes oath as New York City mayor

Mamdani officially stepped into office as NYC mayor on Thursday. He delivered his first address shortly after taking the oath. The public oath was administered by Bernie Sanders. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) introduced Mamdani to the crowd. “My fellow New Yorkers, today begins a new era,” Mamdani said. “I stand before you, moved by the privilege of taking this sacred oath, humbled by the faith that you have placed in me, and honored to serve as either your 111th or 112th Mayor of New York City.”

He acknowledged lingering debate over the city’s mayoral count, saying he was 'honored to serve' as either the 111th or 112th mayor. Mamdani added, “While only action can change minds, I promise you this: if you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor.”