WABC Radio CEO John Catsimatidis calls for Sliwa to exit NYC mayor race

Billionaire John Castimatidis, WABC Radio and Red Apple Media CEO, publicly urged Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race on Monday.

Catsimatidis, a Republican who launched his own mayoral campaign in 2013, cited concerns “that Sliwa’s continued candidacy could split the vote and inadvertently help another candidate.”

“Catsimatidis said the move is essential to consolidating support behind a ‘viable alternative’ and avoiding what he described as a potentially damaging outcome for the city if the vote remains divided,” the release said. 

Sliwa was quick to respond, and he does not intend on going anywhere.

“The billionaires can conspire to pick their candidate … I trust the people. They will make the decision. I will not drop out,” Sliwa told Fox News Digital.

BILL ACKMAN JUMPS INTO NYC MAYORAL FIGHT, SAYS SLIWA MUST DROP OR ‘WE ARE TOAST’

Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, speaks during a mayoral debate with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, center, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)

Sliwa is currently on a leave of absence from WABC Radio, where he has worked for decades, while running for NYC mayor. 

The sun sets on the skyline of Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in New York City as a person runs along the Hudson River on February 25, 2024, in Jersey City, New Jersey.   (Gary Hershorn)

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, appeared amused by the situation.

“I never thought I would say this, but here we are, where the only candidates who agree that billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city are the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee,” the democratic socialist Mamdani said. 

DAVID MARCUS: IT’S NOT CURTIS SLIWA’S JOB TO SAVE THE DEMOCRAT PARTY FROM ITSELF

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, an independent candidate, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, center, and Republican  nominee Curtis Sliwa meet Thursday in New York City’s only general election debate. (Seth Wenig; Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images; Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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“What we have is an independent candidate in Andrew Cuomo who is pleading, not only with Donald Trump, but with billionaire donors to try to pave the way for his return to public life,” Mamdani added during a press conference on Monday. “We know that New Yorkers, no matter what they think about our politics, want to make their own decisions, and that is one place where Curtis and I agree, which is that it’s time for New Yorkers to make this decision, not for billionaire donors to decide who gets to run this city.”