New York’s Republican leadership just swung the city’s mayoral contest into chaos by backing Andrew Cuomo—over their own GOP nominee—to stop self-declared communist Zohran Mamdani from seizing City Hall.
Upstate Rep. Nick Langworthy tore up the party playbook Thursday, declaring Cuomo the lone candidate capable of defeating Mamdani’s radical agenda.
“This isn’t about partisanship—it’s about saving New York City from a communist takeover,” Langworthy said without hesitation. “Cuomo knows how to run government. Curtis Sliwa doesn’t stand a chance against Mamdani or his socialist allies.”
Statewide polling confirms Langworthy’s bold gamble. Cuomo consistently outpaces Sliwa in head-to-head matchups and trails Mamdani by single digits—while Sliwa languishes in the low-teens.
Sliwa’s campaign has stumbled on message discipline and fundraising. His hard-right rhetoric energizes a shrinking base but alienates the city’s center, handing Mamdani an unchecked path to victory.
In contrast, Cuomo brings a proven record: three consecutive terms as governor, balanced budgets, and a reputation for decisive action on crime and infrastructure. He shattered the myth that Democrats can’t govern with fiscal discipline.
Republicans from the Hudson Valley to Westchester are recalibrating. Rep. Mike Lawler echoed Langworthy’s call; only Cuomo can halt the socialist wave. Meanwhile, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis remains loyal to Sliwa—though her voice is the exception, not the rule.
Even former President Trump has signaled his preference for a Democrat over a communist mayor—and national GOP strategists are taking note.
This week’s shock endorsement marks a turning point. If Republicans sacrifice party loyalty for citywide survival, Cuomo may emerge as the unlikely bulwark against Mamdani’s extremist agenda—and the pragmatic choice for New York’s future.
