Curtis Sliwa compares himself to Braveheart in NYC mayor race

Curtis Sliwa says he’s heading into the home 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 stances and outspoken rhetoric, compared himself to the legendary freedom fighter, saying he would continue to fight against Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and his socialist allies no matter who wins on Tuesday.

The Guardian Angels founder said Mamdani’s supporters — whom he called “Zohranists,” a play on the socialist Sandinista movement in Nicaragua — would flee the city if their candidate lost, but he would stay and fight for New York.

“If I lose, I stand up and fight,” Sliwa said. “I’m getting better, I’m not moving.”

My name is CURTIS SLIWA. THIS IS WHY I WANT NEW YORK CITY’S VOTE FOR MAYOR

Curtis Sliwa (left) and a scene from the film Braveheart (right) are shown in a split image. Sliwa compared himself to the film’s hero, saying he “exudes confidence, strength, fight – like ‘Braveheart'”. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)

“The Zohranists are already saying they’re ready to flee. As soon as we take over the city, they’re all saying they’re going to sell out, run away, and leave – and then we’ll rule this city.”

Sliwa then compared his determination 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 though he was disembowelled.

“I exude confidence, strength, fight – like Braveheart,” Sliwa said. “At the end they capture him, they put him on the stretcher 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, disembowel him. It’s me – Braveheart. “

“I’m becoming the royal opposition. And boy, I’m becoming 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 do not surrender, retreat or flee. The Democrats are doing it. »

Curtis Sliwa (right) and Rudy Giuliani (left) are pictured in separate file photos. Sliwa also compared himself to the former New York mayor, calling himself “Rudy Giuliani 2.0.” (Edward Berthelot/Getty Images; David Dee Delgado/Reuters)

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Sliwa expressed confidence as polling day approached, highlighting what he called an unprecedented grassroots operation.

“We have 13 campaign headquarters spread across the five boroughs – no one has ever done this before,” he said. “We are everywhere. I feel it: this city is ready to welcome a real New Yorker again.”

Sliwa dismissed the latest Fox News poll, which showed him at 15% and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo up slightly at 31%, with Mamdani holding a substantial lead at 47%.

He said the poll did not accurately reflect the pulse of the city since it showed Mamdani as the candidate best placed to fight crime.

“No one in their right mind would ever consider Zohran Mamdani to be the law enforcement candidate. I’m Rudy Giuliani 2.0,” Sliwa said. “This is why polls do not elect civil servants: the people will elect the next mayor.”

He said billionaire donors offered him $10 million to leave the race and claimed he was now traveling with armed security after threats were made against him and his wife.

“I am the only true New Yorker of this breed – born here, almost killed here, and I will die here,” Sliwa said. “They tried to take me out once, but I’m still standing. I’ll fight until the end.”

Zohran Mamdani, Democratic candidate for mayor of New York, accepts the endorsement at United Bodegas of America in the Bronx, New York, Wednesday, October 29, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

The Brooklyn-born 71-year-old survived a mob attack in 1992, when he was shot multiple times in a moving taxi before jumping out of a window. Prosecutors claimed the driver was a Gambino associate and that the attack was approved by the family’s boss, John Gotti Jr., who believed Sliwa had criticized 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.

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Sliwa has presented himself as a Republican populist for blue-collar voters as well as animal lovers, touting his independent Save the Animals ballot campaign. New York law allows candidates to appear on more than one ballot line, so Sliwa created it to highlight her animal rescue work and activism to protect cats, dogs and other animals.

“Win or lose, I will always be there with the people – in the streets, in the subway, with the cats, with the cops. That’s who I am.”