'Drop out or Zohran wins': Bill Ackman to Curtis Silwa; billionaire urges Republican mayoral contender to exit New York City race

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman , a New York City native, has called on Curtis Sliwa to withdraw from the city’s November 4 mayoral race, warning that a vote for the Republican candidate would effectively be “a vote for Zohran Mamdani .”

A vote for @CurtisSliwa is a vote for @ZohranKMamdani

— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 17, 2025

Mamdani, the Democratic Party candidate, is the odds-on favourite to succeed Eric Adams, the outgoing 110th mayor of New York City.



“If Curtis Sliwa drops, Andrew Cuomo can win. If he doesn’t, we are toast,” Ackman said Friday in a post on X. Cuomo, the former governor of New York State, is running as an independent in the mayoral race.

He also shared the latest predictions from polling agency PolyMarket, which show Mamdani with nearly 90 percent support. Cuomo and Sliwa trailed with 9 percent and less than 1 percent, respectively.

If @CurtisSliwa drops, @andrewcuomo can win. If he doesn’t, we are toast. https://t.co/xLgZs7jiU8

— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 17, 2025

The predictions came following Thursday's first debate between the three contenders.

“It was not Zohran Mamdani’s debate performance. It was Curtis Sliwa’s statement after the debate that he is not leaving that has tipped the odds to 90 percent for Mamdani,” Ackman added. He has been backing Cuomo’s independent bid.

It was not @ZohranKMamdani’s debate performance. It was @CurtisSliwa’s statement after the debate that he is not leaving that has tipped the odds to 90% for Mamdani. https://t.co/Cc2mbZDY8E

— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 17, 2025

Sliwa had stated after the debate that he would remain in the race.