Bill Ackman claims Sliwa is helping Dem socialist Mamdani win NYC mayor race
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Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is stepping up his commentary on the New York City mayoral race, claiming Republican Curtis Sliwa’s refusal to leave has pushed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to a 90% chance of victory, according to prediction market data.
Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital, argued that Sliwa staying in the race helped Mamdani secure the win.
On Friday, Ackman released new Polymarket odds on the X showing Mamdani close to 90%, well ahead of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sliwa.
“It wasn’t Zohran Mamdani’s debate performance. It was Curtis Sliwa’s announcement that he would not be leaving after the debate that dropped the odds for Mamdani to 90%,” Ackman wrote. X.
Sliwa said he would not withdraw after the last debate.
BREAKING STRETCH: MAMDANI’S LARGE LEAD IS SHINING AS CUOMO GAINS STRENGTH IN NYC MAYOR RACE
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa greets supporters as he arrives to participate in the mayoral debate in New York City on Thursday. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Ackman’s remarks mark a rare public move by a high-profile investor into local elections. A spokesperson for Pershing Square told Fox News Digital it had “no additional comment beyond Ackman’s posts.”
Ackman supported Cuomo’s independent bid and earlier in the week called on Sliwa to drop out of the race to give Cuomo a “better chance.”
Sliwa is not backing down. In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, his campaign rejected the idea that Ackman or any donors should influence the race.
“Billionaires will not decide the outcome; voters will decide. The people will decide. Let the people decide,” said Maria Sliwa, the candidate’s spokeswoman.
“Cuomo lost the primary as a Democrat. He is running as an independent. Curtis, like Mamdani, is on a major party line. If something happens, Cuomo should withdraw, not Curtis.”
He said Sliwa always planned to stay in the race to give Republicans an option.
“This race will not be decided by millionaires, billionaires or professional politicians. Voters will decide on November 4.”
Sliwa’s refusal to leave became a flashpoint in the campaign. Ackman and others say a one-on-one matchup between Cuomo and Mamdani would be more competitive.
NEW POLL reveals Mamdani’s lead shrinking as CUOMO gains ground at NYC Showdown
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, independent candidate (left) and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participated in the mayoral debate in New York on Thursday. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
Some polls show Cuomo could close the gap without Sliwa in the race. But Sliwa’s team and several analysts question whether his voters will support Cuomo.
Friday morning “Sid and Friends MorningOn WABC radio, Cuomo accused Sliwa of being a spoiler and warned Republicans that remaining loyal to Sliwa could cede the election to Mamdani.
“Curtis can’t win,” Cuomo said. “No Republicans voted to put Curtis on the ballot. No Democrats voted to put Curtis on the ballot. He was framed by the party bosses — the Republican county chairmen — because he’s a spoiler. And they want Mamdani to win.”
Cuomo argued that GOP leaders supported Sliwa for strategic reasons, not to win City Hall.
“They’re going to take Mamdani and take her around the country and say, ‘Look how crazy this Democratic Party is; they elected an anti-police, anti-business, anti-Semitic 33-year-old socialist.’ “This will help them politically, but it will destroy the city,” Cuomo said.
He added that voters who supported Sliwa had effectively helped Mamdani.
“You’re voting for Curtis, save yourself some time and vote for Mamdani,” Cuomo said. “He’s the Republican presidential nominee. And what Republicans have to decide is whether partisan loyalty is more important than loyalty to the city.”
FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS UNHAPPY WITH NYC’S DIRECTION SUPPORT MAMDANI FOR MAYOR BY A WIDE RANGE
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa (left) speaks with democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani (right) and independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (not pictured) as they attend the mayoral debate in New York on Thursday. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
Cuomo also attacked Mamdani’s public safety policies, warning: “If you defund the police, you close Rikers; he’s talking about releasing 7,000 people from Rikers when it closes. There are no new prisons. There will be a mass exodus from this city. It will never be the same.”
The 2025 NYC mayoral race has received national attention. Mamdani, 33, is a socialist state assemblywoman from Queens who upset Cuomo in the Democratic primary. If elected, he would be the city’s first Muslim mayor and has the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Cuomo, 65, is running as an independent four years after resigning as governor. He is trying to portray himself as a centrist who can defeat Mamdani. Since the departure of Mayor Eric Adams, Cuomo has gained ground in the voting.
Sliwa, 69, is known for founding the Guardian Angels patrol group and has framed his campaign around crime and quality of life issues. He won 27% of the vote in the 2021 mayoral race.
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Ackman’s involvement sparked renewed interest in Polymarket, a prediction site where users bet on political outcomes.
Contracting for the NYC mayoral race has already surpassed $190 million in transaction volume; this is one of the biggest in domestic US elections. Ackman’s posts fueled speculation and caused an increase in trading activity.
Voters go to the polls on November 4.
Polymarket did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
