For the third time, Curtis Sliwa, a former Republican contender for New York City’s mayoral seat, is contemplating another run for office. The news surfaced in an unexpected setting—California—during a visit last week.
While speaking to a group of Stanford University students on May 22, Sliwa was asked about the possibility of another mayoral campaign.
“I was there to discuss the risks associated with artificial intelligence,” he recounted. “A number of students who followed last year’s campaign closely encouraged me to consider running again.”
Sliwa responded to the suggestion, saying, “I’ll certainly take that into account. I would love the opportunity to run for mayor of New York City again, whether against [Mayor] Zohran Mandami or any other candidates.”
When questioned by The Post about his remarks, Sliwa reaffirmed his interest, indicating a serious consideration of another bid for the city’s top job.
He doubled down when asked about his comments by The Post.
“Obviously, it’s early in the process now, but if you were to say, ‘Is it likely you’ll run again?’ Absolutely. What would prevent me from running?” said the Guardian Angels founder, who got walloped in the 2021 mayoral race and again last year.
“I don’t think anybody knows more about the City of New York than yours truly when it comes to subways and streets, public safety, quality of life, homeless people, and emotionally disturbed persons who are not being cared for.”
Sliwa, a 72-year-old Republican, said he’d seek the GOP nomination again and isn’t concerned about the bad blood he’s suffered with members of his own party — including some who are furious because he stiffed plenty of campaign workers of thousands of dollars.
Sliwa raised $6.87 million for the 2025 race, including qualifying for $5.3 million in public matching funds, but his campaign is currently $323,887 in the red, according to its latest filings in January.
He said he’s banking on the NYC Campaign Finance Board releasing additional public matching funds to pay off the campaign’s workers and other debt.
Sliwa received only 7% of the vote in the November election, badly trailing Mamdani and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing out to Mamdani on the Democratic nomination.
He said he has no regrets about staying in the race despite facing immense pressure from many conservatives and moderates to back out and support Cuomo to help prevent Mamdani, a socialist, from winning.
“I don’t believe in dropping out,” he said. “Let the people decide.”
He also said he believes Mamdani has so far done a horrible job in office and hopes he can convince enough Democrats by 2029 to cross-over and support him.
However, Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic consultant, said Sliwa would be wasting his time — and potentially public matching funds paid by taxpayers — if he ran again.
“He has about as much chance of becoming mayor as I do of becoming King of Prussia,” he quipped.
