NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is stepping up his comments on New York The mayoral race says Republican Curtis Sliwa's refusal to quit the party has given Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani a 90% chance of winning, according to market forecast data.
Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital, argues that Sliwa's entry into the race helps ensure Mamdani's victory.
On Friday, Ackman released new Polymarket odds on X showing Mamdani at about 90%, well ahead of the former governor. Andrew Cuomo and Plum.
“It wasn't Zorana Mamdani Debate speech. It was Curtis Sliwa's announcement after the debate that he would not quit that increased Mamdani's chances to 90%,” Ackman wrote on Facebook. X.
Sliwa said he would not quit the party after the last debate.
LATEST STREAK: MAMDANI'S GREAT LEAD SHRINKS AS CUOMO GAINS POSITION IN NEW YORK CITY MAYOR'S RACE
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa greets supporters as they arrive for Thursday's mayoral debate in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Ackman's remarks mark a rare public intervention by a prominent investor in local elections. A Pershing Square spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “there were no additional comments beyond Ackman's posts.”
Ackman supported Cuomo's independent bid and earlier this week called on Sliwa to drop out of the race to give Cuomo his “better chance.”
Plum does not retreat. His campaign, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, rejected the idea that Ackman or any donor should influence the race.
“It’s not billionaires who will decide the outcome of the election—it’s the voters. These are people. Let the people decide,” said Maria Sliva, the candidate’s press secretary.
“Cuomo lost the primary as a Democrat. He is running as an independent candidate. Curtis toes the mainstream party line, as does Mamdani. If anything, Cuomo should go, not Curtis.”
She said Sliwa always planned to stay in the race to give Republicans a choice.
“This race will not be decided by millionaires, billionaires or career politicians. It will be decided by voters on November 4th.”
Sliwa's refusal to leave became a flashpoint in the election campaign. Ackman and others say a one-on-one fight between Cuomo and Mamdani would be more competitive.
NEW POLL SHOWS MAMDANI'S LEADERSHIP AS CUOMO GAINS POSITION AT NEW YORK DEVELOPMENT
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an independent, left, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa take part in Thursday's mayoral debate in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
Some polls suggest Cuomo could close the gap without Sliwa in the race. But Sliwa's team and several analysts doubt whether Cuomo voters will support him.
Appearing Friday morning on “Sid and friends in the morningOn WABC radio, Cuomo accused Sliwa of being a spoiler and warned Republicans that remaining loyal to Sliwa could tip the election to Mamdani.
“Curtis can’t win,” Cuomo said. “Not a single Republican voted to put Curtis on the ballot. Not a single Democrat voted to put Curtis on the ballot. He was nominated by the party bosses – the Republican county chairmen – because he is a spoiler. And they want Mamdani to win.”
Cuomo has argued that GOP leaders are backing Sliwa for strategic reasons, not to win the mayoralty.
“They'll take Mamdani and run him around the country, saying, 'Look how crazy this Democratic Party is – they elected a 33-year-old socialist who's anti-cop, anti-business, anti-Semitic.' It will help them politically, but it will kill the city,” Cuomo said.
He added that voters supporting Sliwa are effectively helping Mamdani.
“You're voting for Curtis, just save yourself time and vote for Mamdani,” Cuomo said. “He is a candidate for chairman of the Republican Party. And Republicans will have to decide whether party loyalty is more important than loyalty to the city.”
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa (left) speaks during a mayoral debate with Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani (right) and independent candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (not pictured) on Thursday in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
Cuomo also criticized Mamdani's public safety policies, warning: “You defund the police, you close Rikers – he's talking about releasing 7,000 people from Rikers when it closes.” There are no new prisons. There will be a mass exodus from this city. He will never be the same.”
The 2025 New York City mayoral race has captured national attention. Mamdani, 33, is a socialist state legislator from Queens who upset Cuomo in the Democratic primary. If elected, he would be the city's first Muslim mayor and is endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Cuomo, 65, is running as an independent candidate four years after leaving the governor's office. He is trying to present himself as a centrist who can defeat Mamdani. Since Mayor Eric Adams retired, Cuomo has received grounds in polls.
Sliwa, 69, is best known for founding the Guardian Angels patrol group and building his campaign around crime and quality of life issues. He received 27% of the vote in the 2021 mayoral election.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Ackman's involvement has sparked renewed interest in Polymarket, a prediction site where users place bets on political outcomes.
The bidding volume for the contract for the post of mayor of New York has already exceeded $190 million, which is one of the largest figures in local elections in the United States. Ackman's posts sparked speculation and a surge in trading activity.
Voters will head to the polls on November 4th.
Polymarket did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
