By Deroy Murdock
Tuesday, 28 October 2025 04:21 PM EDT
Political analysts argue that New York voters deserve a straightforward choice between two candidates rather than the current three-way contest. Andrew Cuomo, despite his energetic performance in Wednesday’s mayoral debate, is positioned as a losing proposition. The State Assemblyman Zohran Kwame Mamdani of Queens stunned Cuomo in the June 24 Democrat primary, securing 43.9% to Cuomo’s 36.2%.
Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, has gained traction among leftist factions. His alignment with radical policies contrasts sharply with Cuomo’s moderate image, which critics claim is only marginally different from Mamdani’s. A pivotal issue remains Cuomo’s handling of nursing home residents during the pandemic. By confining COVID-19-positive seniors to facilities, he allegedly infected healthy individuals, leading to the deaths of 12,743 elders. Such actions have drawn calls for legal consequences, with some demanding Cuomo face charges for negligent homicide instead of pursuing a mayoral bid.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and Republican nominee, has emerged as a viable alternative. His campaign offers New Yorkers a stark contrast to Mamdani’s leftist agenda. Sliwa emphasizes law enforcement experience, while Mamdani advocates for reduced police funding. Tax policy further divides the candidates: Mamdani seeks to raise taxes on those earning over $1 million, increasing local rates by 51.6% for married couples. His platform also includes proposals to shift tax burdens from outer borough homeowners to wealthier neighborhoods, a move critics liken to discriminatory practices.
Sliwa, in contrast, pledges immediate property tax cuts for seniors and income tax holidays for young professionals. He aims to reduce New York’s corporate income tax rate by 32.2%, aligning it with cities like Boston and Miami. His plan also includes tax credits for employers hiring local graduates, a strategy designed to retain talent and boost the economy.
With Republican Jack Ciattarelli surging in New Jersey’s governor race, New York faces pressure to adopt similar fiscal policies. Mamdani’s proposed tax hikes could accelerate the exodus of high earners to states with lower rates. Sliwa warns that without aggressive tax cuts, New York risks economic collapse, urging voters to prioritize capitalism over what he describes as Mamdani’s “kinder, gentler Communism.”
Sliwa, who positions himself as the “Rudy Giuliani of his lifetime,” insists his campaign represents the Republican Party’s values and a commitment to winning. For New Yorkers, the choice between Sliwa’s fiscal conservatism and Mamdani’s leftist redistribution remains stark.
