Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is “slapping fannies and killing grannies,” New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa said on Fox News on Wednesday.
The comment alludes to Cuomo’s past sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation as governor and his nursing home COVID-19 deaths debacle, which also led to him being questioned by Congress.
Sliwa scorched Cuomo, who will run as an independent in the race, and other mayoral candidates.
“You should be ashamed of yourself because you have helped turn New York City over to the socialists,” Sliwa said of Cuomo. “I am the only one standing in their way. Eric Adams is damaged goods. Every day, a new case of corruption in the police department. They believe he’s corrupt.”
“Andrew Cuomo is a creep, slapping fannies and killing grannies,” he continued before endorsing himself as the best pick of the four major mayoral candidates between himself, Cuomo, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
“Everybody likes Curtis Sliwa. My favorable ratings are the highest in this election cycle. You got to vote for the guy who, if you cut my veins and arteries, I bleed New York City,” he said.
Sliwa later added that he would “take back New York City like Rudy Giuliani did.”
The Republican hadn’t been taken seriously in the city’s mayoral race for months despite launching his campaign before Adams and Cuomo. He lost decisively to Adams in the 2021 general election, 66.99% to 27.76%. This year, the Guardian Angels founder won the Republican nomination uncontested in the heavily blue city.
However, polls indicate that the race is a statistical tie between Mamdani, Sliwa, and Cuomo. The poll found that Mamdani had 26% support, Cuomo 23%, Sliwa 22%, and Adams 13%. With Cuomo, Adams, and Mamdani possibly splitting the Democratic vote, Sliwa has a better chance of winning than before.
Cuomo’s camp didn’t respond kindly to Sliwa’s “slapping fannies and killing grannies” comment.
“All that has been debunked,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told the Washington Examiner of the comment, “but he’s a clown and a deadbeat dad. Consider the source.” Azzopardi shared an article showing Sliwa had been sued for owing child support.
Cuomo recently returned to the city’s mayoral race after Mamdani defeated him by double digits in the Democratic primary.
Cuomo has urged all the candidates to unite against Mamdani and for whoever isn’t leading all of them to drop out by September to give whoever is a better chance to beat the socialist. Adams and Sliwa have been highly resistant to the idea.
Democratic strategist Max Burns called Sliwa a “character” in a city that loves booming personalities.
“Curtis Sliwa reminds a lot of people of a GOP that existed before Trump’s MAGA radicalization and the triumph of nastiness,” he told the Washington Examiner. “Our city loves a good character, and Sliwa is nothing if not a character.”
The New York GOP told the Washington Examiner that Sliwa was the best fit candidate to beat Mamdani, who has been criticized for his socialist record. “There’s only one way to save New York from an antisemitic communist: Vote for Curtis Sliwa in November,” they said.
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One of Cuomo’s top critics, a former staffer and his first sexual harassment accuser, Lindsey Boylan, suggested Sliwa’s phrase will help undermine Cuomo.
“Any phrase that helps people understand what a truly monstrous man Cuomo is serves a purpose,” she said to the Washington Examiner.