Inside the campaign to find a new Republican to run against Mamdani

Prominent donors are gunning to get Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa a job in the Trump Administration in hopes of pushing him out of New York City’s mayoral race, sources told me. The aim is to open up the GOP nomination — and the nearly 30% of the vote someone running in that lane is expected to get — for current mayor Eric Adams.

At present, the mayor is running for re-election as an independent — sandwiched in between Sliwa on the right and Zohran Mamdani on the (ultra-far) left. My sources said Adams, who recently struck a deal with the Trump Administration to clear himself of charges leveled by the DOJ, is open to running as a Republican, but it hinges on a rather complicated chain of events.

Sliwa would have to leave the state to open up the slot, and then Republican borough leaders — city council members and the only Republican borough president, Staten Island’s Vito Fossella — would need to anoint Adams.

Getting Sliwa a top job in Washington, D.C. would be one way — the only way some sources think — to make sure he leaves the state. My sources believe the scheme wouldn’t come across as undemocratic given that Sliwa was the only choice in the Republican primary.

The 71-year-old ran as the Republican nominee in 2021 and won 27.8% of the vote. That wasn’t enough to win a plurality let alone a majority, but if his supporters were to rally behind Adams in November, it could be enough to keep the mayor in Gracie Mansion.

Of course, it all hinges on President Trump’s willingness to extend an olive branch to Sliwa (and by extension New York City) and Sliwa’s willingness to take it.

“Curtis has to make a decision of conscience. How much does he love his city as opposed to running for office?” longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who is vehemently against Mamdani, told me.

Sliwa voted for Trump in 2024, but has previously called him “a screwball and a crackpot.” He also briefly left the Republican party in 2020 and has stated he didn’t vote for Trump in that election.

It is unclear what kind of job could woo Sliwa to Washington. As of now, my sources said he remains hell bent on staying in the race even if it means spoiling it for Adams and ushering in a socialist. (Adams and Sliwa did not respond to requests for comment.)

One other consideration? The 30-year contract Sliwa has with WABC for his radio show.

But WABC owner John Catsimatidis — who owns the radio station through his Red Apple Media — told me that will not be an issue.

“If he was nominated to a great position, how could I hold him back?”

Adams, who saw support among the business community wane as Cuomo appeared poised to nab the Democratic primary, has picked up momentum since Tuesday as business leaders fret Mamdani could win. He’s been working overtime the last few days trying to win back support and is exploring launching additional PACs to raise additional money.

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This wouldn’t be the first time a candidate switched his registration to win an election.

Bloomberg left the crowded Democratic field in 2001, nabbed the Republican nomination and went on to win the general election.

Adams has already shown a willingness to engage with Republicans, appearing on “Fox & Friends” earlier this week to express concerns about the possibility of Mamdani winning the primary. He’s also working with the Trump Administration when it comes to letting ICE do its job by arresting illegals in NYC.

Sheinkopf is cautiously optimistic that it could all work for Adams.

“In the last 55 years, only two incumbent first term mayors have been defeated … Abe Beams and David Dinkins and he’s not either,” he told me. “Adams can win by putting together the coalition that elected him last time — the business people and the people who create the jobs.”

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