Cuomo, racing to close gap with Mamdani, looks to take conservative Russian voters from Sliwa

Indepedent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo asked Brighton Beach residents for their support in an attempt to siphon conservative Russian voters from Republican Curtis Sliwa on Friday as he seeks to gain ground on frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.

In the final days of the mayoral election, Cuomo has pitched himself to conservatives and Republicans, arguing the Democratic nominee Mamdani is “dangerous” to New Yorkers and can only be defeated by him, not Sliwa.

“Curtis Sliwa can only make Zohran Mamdani win,” Cuomo said. “Don’t believe me, believe President Trump, if you’re a Republican. President Trump said Curtis Sliwa is not ready for prime time, and a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani.”

The ex-governor munched on Russian dumpings at a restaurant in the neighborhood before his remarks. He was introduced by Republican Councilmember Inna Vernikov, who derided Mamdani and his politics.

“Aside from the fact that he is a communist and an anti-semite, he has no idea what he’s doing,” Vernikov, who was arrested for carrying a gun to a protest in 2023 before the charges were dropped, said. Mamdani is not a communist, but a democratic socialst, and has come under fire for his anti-Israel stance and support for positions that are seen as fostering antisemitism.

Asked whether he agreed with Vernikov’s claims, Cuomo said: “I don’t believe the council member said that,” he said. “Antisemitism is a problem in New York City.”

Early voting closes Sunday evening, and Election Day is Tuesday. Mamdani, the frontrunner in the race, is poling double digits ahead of Cuomo and Sliwa.

On a radio hit with local Russian language station Davidzon radio 620 AM Friday morning, Cuomo invoked President Trump, and promised to appoint more Russians to senior positions in his administration than any previous mayor.

“If I win, the Russian community will have more representation in my administration than they have ever had in history,” Cuomo said, urging Russian New Yorkers to vote “so you get attention from the political system.”

The ex-governor’s foray into Brighton Beach comes as a super PAC in his support has poured thousands into boosting his candidacy in Russian-speaking communities, laying the groundwork for Cuomo among those voters by blasting out ads in the language.

New Yorkers for a Better Future PAC has over the past two weeks put at least $339,048 towards TV and radio ads, canvassing and flyers attacking Sliwa’s candidacy and urging voters to cast their ballots for Cuomo. The PAC has raised $1.6 million in total.

The group placed a $36,000 cable television ad buy on Thursday that shows an older Russian-speaking couple warning of a “very serious danger” in New York City dramatic uplifting music plays in the background.

“He is experienced, he inspires confidence and we believe he is a worthy candidate for mayor of New York City,” a woman, identified as “Galina,” said in the ad.

Daniel Kurzyna, a spokesperson for Sliwa, said Cuomo’s efforts in right-leaning neighborhoods won’t “move the needle.”

“New Yorkers remember the damage Andrew Cuomo did,” Kurzyna said. “Cuomo doesn’t have a chance, and we have broad support in South Brooklyn.

“Curtis Sliwa will shock the world.”