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Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has stepped up his commentary on the New York City mayoral race, claiming that Republican Curtis Sliwa’s refusal to exit has pushed Democratic socialist Zahran Mamdani to a 90% chance of winning, according to forecast market data.
Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital, said that Saliwa remaining in the race helps Mamdani secure the win.
On Friday, Ackman posted new odds for PollyMarket on X showing Mamdani near 90%, well ahead of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sliwa.
“It was not Zahran Mamdani’s performance in the debate. Rather, it was Curtis Saliwa’s post-debate statement that he would not leave that raised the odds to 90% for Mamdani,” Ackman wrote on his website. X.
Saliwa had said that he would not withdraw after the last debate.
Final stretch: Mamdani’s big lead shrinks as Cuomo advances in New York City mayoral race
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa greets supporters as he arrives for Thursday’s mayoral debate in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Ackman’s comments represent a rare public foray by a high-profile investor into local elections. A Pershing Square spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “there is no additional comment beyond Ackman’s contributions.”
Ackman has supported Cuomo’s independent bid and earlier this week urged Sliwa to exit the race to give Cuomo “a better chance.”
Pray he doesn’t back down. His campaign, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, rejected the idea that Ackman or any donor should influence the race.
Maria Sliwa, the candidate’s spokeswoman, said: “The billionaires will not decide the outcome. They are the voters. They are the people. Let the people decide.”
“Cuomo lost the primary as a Democrat. He’s running as an independent. Curtis is on a major party line just like Mamdani. If anything, Cuomo should drop out, not Curtis.”
She said Saliwa always planned to stay in the race to give Republicans an option.
He added, “This race will not be decided by millionaires, billionaires, or professional politicians. Rather, it will be decided by voters on November 4.”
Saliwa’s refusal to leave became a flashpoint in the campaign. Ackman and others say a one-on-one matchup between Cuomo and Mamdani would be more competitive.
New poll reveals Mamdani’s lead shrinking as Cuomo advances in showdown in New York City
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, independent candidate (left), and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participate in Thursday’s mayoral debate in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Swimming Pool)
Some polls suggest Cuomo may close the gap without praying in the race. But Sliwa’s team and many analysts wonder whether his voters will support Cuomo.
Appears Friday morning onMaster and friends in the morning“On WABC Radio, Cuomo accused Sliwa of playing spoiler and warned Republicans that remaining loyal to Sliwa could hand the election to Mamdani.
“Curtis can’t win,” Cuomo said. “No Republican voted to put Curtis on the ballot. No Democrat voted to put Curtis on the ballot. He was nominated by the party bosses — Republican county chairs — because he’s corrupt. And they want Mamdani to win.”
Cuomo argued that GOP leaders are supporting Sliwa for strategic reasons, not to win City Council.
“They’ll take Mamdani and take him around the country saying, ‘Look how crazy this Democratic Party is — they elected a 33-year-old socialist who’s anti-police, anti-business, anti-Semitic.’ “It will help them politically, but it will kill the city,” Cuomo said.
He added that voters who support Sali are effectively helping Mamdani.
“You’re voting for Curtis, just save yourself time and vote for Mamdani,” Cuomo said. “He’s the Republican Party’s presidents’ nominee. What Republicans will have to decide is whether party loyalty is more important than loyalty to the city.”
Fox News poll: Voters dissatisfied with New York City’s direction, prefer Mamdani for mayor by wide margin
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, left, speaks as he participates in a mayoral debate with Democratic Socialist candidate Zahran Mamdani, right, and independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (not pictured) Thursday in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Swimming Pool)
Cuomo also attacked Mamdani’s public safety policies, warning: “If 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 an exodus from this city. It will never be the same.”
The 2025 New York City mayoral race has attracted national attention. Mamdani, 33, is a Socialist state congressman from Queens who upset Cuomo in the Democratic primary. If elected, he would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, and has the support of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Cuomo, 65, is running as an independent four years after resigning as governor. He is trying to portray himself as a centrist capable of beating Mamdani. Since Mayor Eric Adams withdrew, Cuomo has gained ground in the polls.
Sliwa, 69, is best known for founding the Guardian Angels patrol group, and has built his campaign around crime and quality of life issues. He received 27% of the vote in the 2021 mayoral race.
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Ackman’s post sparked renewed interest in Polymarket, a prediction site where users bet on political outcomes.
Turnover for the New York City mayoral race has already exceeded $190 million, one of the largest in US local elections. Ackman’s publications fueled speculation and an increase in trading activity.
Voters go to the polls on November 4.
Polymarket did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.