Democratic candidates in New York City’s mayoral race have expressed disapproval towards Governor Cuomo accepting donations in excess of $120,000 from formally registered Republicans. They have criticised his reluctance to take a harder stance against former President Trump. Cuomo received the maximum $2,100 donation each from both Anthony Scaramucci and his spouse – Scaramucci having a brief stint as Trump’s communications director.
Contributions have been received by Cuomo’s super PAC from Ken Langone, the co-founder of Home Depot and a billionaire. Tanya Zuckerbot, a key influence in the MAGA community, actively trumpeted her support for Cuomo through hosting a ‘Women for Cuomo’ fundraising event. An Instagram post of hers with the Governor was tagged with #makeNYCgreatagain, taking a cue from former President Trump’s well-known catchphrase.
The attraction of a moderate figure like Cuomo in the present electoral landscape, which is filled with candidates representing the far left, should be expected. Candidates such as Zohran Mamdani backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Brad Lander serving as the City Comptroller, among others, form the present spectrum. As a result, the notable question is: where exactly stands the New York Republican Party?
In the expansive view, despite former President Trump achieving the best-ever electoral performance for a Republican in the city in the last three decades, with a vote share of 43 percent just a few months ago, it appears the New York Republican Party is struggling to harness this momentum. Their candidate of choice at this pivotal time seems to be Curtis Sliwa 2.0.
Seventy-one-year-old Curtis Sliwa is primarily recognised for his signature red beret and for establishing the Guardian Angels, a voluntary organization centred around crime prevention. Its inception dates back almost 50 years. Sliwa also made a mayoral run four years ago, only to be defeated by Eric Adams securing merely 27 percent of the vote.
An interesting chapter from his recent press appearances relates to a New York Times profile piece featuring him inside his tiny, 320-square-foot apartment which he shares with a dozen feline companions. As of the upcoming election cycle, Mr. Sliwa finds himself as the sole Republican contender in the running for the position of mayor.
Thus, the Republican primary essentially stands uncontested. Earlier this year, a series of severe subway crimes headlining the city’s local newscasts, which included the horrific incident of a homeless woman set ablaze on the F train, compelled the city to place a high priority on handling its crime crisis.
Emerging from that turbulent time, the rate of violent crimes in the city has shown signs of a downward trend. However, the city continues to grapple with the financial toll brought on by the ongoing migrant crisis which has escalated into billions of dollars.
Residential renters are facing an upward pressure on prices. Meanwhile, the adverse impact of the Covid pandemic has led to the exodus of half a million inhabitants from the city. Such a state of affairs prompts the speculation: where are potential leaders akin to a Michael Bloomberg or Rudy Giuliani to step up?
It’s worthwhile to recall that New York City, typically considered a stronghold for Democrats, had Republican or Republican-switched-Independent mayors in office from 1994 to 2013. This includes figures like Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani who even switched his party alignment midway through his career at the city council.
Furthermore, looking at state level leadership, a Republican Governor was at the helm with George Pataki’s term extending from 1995 to 2006. Therefore, the lack of a strong Republican candidate in current city politics is puzzling and indeed an interesting facet to observe for the coming mayoral elections.
As the election scene heats up, the depth of the city’s political inclination will soon unfold. The acceptance by Cuomo of funds from Republicans, the seemingly low-key Republican representation, and the shift towards crime and budgetary issues are key developments marking the current political landscape.
In the unfolding of this diverse political scenario, it remains to be seen how voters respond – whether they’ll lean towards a more moderate, or far-left leaning candidate. As the election date draws closer, the city awaits its answer. Will they witness the entry of a figure who might shake up the political spectrum and echo the leadership styles of a past Bloomberg or Giuliani remains the anticipating question.