US Politics

Curtis Sliwa compares himself to Braveheart, vows to fight NYC’s socialist machine win or lose

By Eric November 3, 2025

Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a prominent figure in New York City politics, is charging into the final stretch of the mayoral race with the fervor of a warrior, likening himself to the iconic character from the film “Braveheart.” In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Sliwa expressed his determination to continue battling against Democrat nominee Zohran Mamdani and his supporters, whom he derogatorily refers to as “Zohranistas.” Sliwa’s campaign is centered around his tough-on-crime stance and his belief that he is the true representative of the city’s working-class citizens. He suggests that if Mamdani wins, his supporters will abandon the city, while he vows to remain and fight for its future, stating, “If I should lose, I stand and fight. I improve, I don’t move.”

Sliwa’s campaign strategy includes an unprecedented grassroots operation, boasting 13 campaign headquarters throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Despite recent polling that shows Mamdani with a significant lead, Sliwa remains undeterred, arguing that polls do not accurately reflect the sentiments of everyday New Yorkers. He positions himself as the law-and-order candidate, drawing comparisons to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and emphasizes his deep-rooted connection to the city, having been born and raised there. Sliwa’s life experiences, including surviving a mob hit in 1992, have shaped his tough persona and commitment to the city. He also highlights his advocacy for animal rights through his independent Save the Animals ballot line, appealing to voters who care about animal welfare. As Election Day approaches, Sliwa’s message remains clear: whether he wins or loses, he will continue to engage with the community, fighting for the issues he believes in and standing alongside the people of New York.

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Curtis Sliwa says he’s charging into the final stretch of New York City’s mayoral race like “Braveheart” — confident, defiant and ready to die on his sword for the city he loves.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Sliwa, known for his tough-on-crime positions and plainspoken rhetoric, compared himself to the legendary freedom fighter, saying he’ll keep battling Democrat nominee
Zohran Mamdani
and his socialist allies regardless of who wins on Tuesday.
The Guardian Angels founder said Mamdani’s supporters — whom he labeled “Zohranistas,” a play on the Sandinista socialist movement in Nicaragua — will flee the city if their candidate loses, but he’ll stay and fight for New York.
“If I should lose, I stand and fight,” Sliwa said. “I improve, I don’t move.”
I’M CURTIS SLIWA. THIS IS WHY I WANT NEW YORK CITY’S VOTE FOR MAYOR
“The Zohranistas are already saying they’re ready to flee. The moment we take over the city, they’re all saying they’re gonna sell, run and leave — and then we will run this city.”
Sliwa then compared his resolve to the climax of “Braveheart,” the 1995 historical epic starring Mel Gibson as Scottish warrior William Wallace, who led the fight for independence from England in the 13th century. At his execution, Wallace refused to beg for mercy or pledge loyalty to the king of England, even while being disemboweled.
“I exude confidence, strength, fight — like Braveheart,” Sliwa said. “At the end, they capture him, they’ve got him on the gurney and the executioner says, ‘You will bow to the King of England.’ He looks at him and says, ‘Do your job.’ Then they impale him, they gut him out. That’s me — Braveheart.”
“I become the royal opposition. And boy, I will become Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America — AOC [
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
] — I will become their worst nightmare because I will fight, fight, fight. Republicans don’t surrender, retreat and run. Democrats do.”
DAVID MARCUS: IT’S NOT CURTIS SLIWA’S JOB TO SAVE THE DEMOCRAT PARTY FROM ITSELF
Sliwa said he’s confident heading into
Election Day
, pointing to what he called an unprecedented grassroots operation.
“We’ve got 13 campaign headquarters across the five boroughs — nobody’s ever done that before,” he said. “We’re everywhere. I can feel it — this city’s ready for a real New Yorker again.”
Sliwa dismissed the latest
Fox News poll
, which showed him at 15% and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo rising slightly to 31%, with Mamdani holding a substantial lead at 47%.
He said the poll wasn’t a true reflection of the city’s pulse since it showed Mamdani as the candidate best suited to handle crime.
“Nobody in their right mind would ever consider that Zohran Mamdani is the law-and-order candidate. I am Rudy Giuliani 2.0,” Sliwa said. “That’s why polls don’t elect officials — the people will elect the next mayor.”
He said billionaire donors offered him $10 million to quit the race and claimed he now travels with armed security after threats were made against him and his wife.
“I’m the only real New Yorker in this race — born here, nearly killed here, and I’ll die here,” Sliwa said. “They tried to take me out once, but I’m still standing. I’ll fight to the very end.”
The Brooklyn-born 71-year-old famously survived a
mob hit
in 1992, when he was shot multiple times inside a moving taxi before jumping out through a window. Prosecutors alleged the driver was a Gambino associate and that the attack was approved by the head of the family, John Gotti Jr., who believed Sliwa had been criticizing the Gottis on his radio show. Gotti Jr. was later indicted for ordering the attack but was never convicted.
Cuomo was born in Queens, while Mamdani was born in Uganda.
Sliwa has framed himself as a Republican populist for blue-collar voters as well as animal lovers, touting his independent Save the Animals ballot line. New York law lets candidates appear on more than one ballot line, so Sliwa created it to highlight his animal rescue work and activism in protecting cats, dogs and other animals.
“Win or lose, I’ll still be out there with the people — in the streets, in the subways, with the cats,
with the cops
. That’s who I am.”