New York City residents took to the polls Tuesday to vote for their choice to represent the Democratic and Republican parties in the 2021 Mayoral Race to replace outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio. Although Eric Adams is currently leading in the polls, the Democratic candidate has yet to be confirmed, while the Republican party was able to choose a nominee easily in Curtis Sliwa.
Sliwa beat out businessman Fernando Mateo by over 40 points, with roughly 69% of the vote. Despite the heated campaign between the only two candidates representing the Republicans, Sliwa won over Mateo handily, saying in his victory speech, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have just won the Republican Party in an overwhelming way.” Formerly a member of the Reform party, Sliwa switched to become a member of the GOP in February to represent the party in the Mayoral Election.
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani was by Sliwa’s side as he gave his victory speech, even chiming in to boast about the candidate and his campaign, saying, “Curtis is a great candidate. The energy, he out-campaigned everyone. Curtis is absolutely ready to be an excellent mayor. A mayor who will reform the city.”
Sliwa is known for founding the Guardian Angels, an anti-crime organization made up of volunteers. They serve as safety patrol for residents of the city and are identified by wearing their signature red berets, something Sliwa has worn proudly throughout the entire campaign. The organization was founded by Sliwa in 1979 and has since spread internationally, with representation in 13 countries all over the world. Giuliani spoke highly of the organization and Sliwa, saying, “It became a worldwide movement. He did a better job tackling crime than the mayor,” repeating the sentiment that Sliwa is the best candidate to address the crime problem in the city.
Sliwa’s plans to reduce crime in the city include reinstating stop-and-frisk, as well as for a stronger police presence on buses and subways. He also plans to bring back a plainclothes anti-crime unit, according to Pix 11.
Sliwa has offered a clear plan on how to address the lingering issue of homelessness in the city, acknowledging spaces in upstate New York that are empty and could be used for rehabilitation. “They’d be more than happy to take our money so that we can rehab the homeless men and women and repatriate them into the city once they’re able to handle a job and pay for their own bills.” He is one of the few candidates in either party to propose a concrete solution to the ongoing problem in the city.
Although it might still be weeks before Sliwa officially knows who he will be battling in the Democratic party in the general election, he is eager to take on whoever the opponent is and bring back Republican leadership to the city.
