Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has disclosed allegations of a $10 million bribe and threats to his life, according to statements made in a recent street interview. Sliwa, who has consistently ranked third in the race, claimed that unnamed individuals offered him the sum to withdraw from the contest. When he refused, he alleged they escalated their actions, threatening to kill both him and his wife.
Sliwa stated, “They bribed me with ten million dollars to drop out, and I said, ‘Oh no, that’s not only unethical, that’s illegal.’ So then they couldn’t bribe me, so they threatened to kill me and my wife.” He added that he now employs armed security for the first time in his life, citing past attacks by “the Gottis and Gambinos” in 1992.
The candidate emphasized his commitment to democracy, saying, “I trust the people. The people vote. That’s what democracy is about—one person, one vote—and we’ll see who they pick on November 4th.”
Recent polls indicate a narrowing gap between Sliwa, independent candidate Zohran Mamdani, and former governor Andrew Cuomo. A new survey revealed Mamdani leading Cuomo by 6.6 points, with Sliwa at 24.1%, his highest showing since July. Meanwhile, a two-candidate matchup between Mamdani and Cuomo would see the latter ahead 50% to 42%.
Cuomo’s campaign highlighted the shifting dynamics, stating, “The gap is closing fast… At this rate, we win the race.” However, predictive markets like Polymarket currently favor Mamdani with a 95% probability of victory.