By Staff Reporter
October 17, 2025 – NEW YORK — Curtis Sliwa‘s unyielding takedown of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during Thursday night’s explosive NYC mayoral debate has sparked a wave of glowing media praise and online fervor, propelling the Republican underdog into surge territory just weeks from the November 4 showdown. The Guardian Angels founder, channeling his trademark street-fighter energy, dominated the 90-minute clash at NBC Studios by relentlessly exposing Cuomo’s governance failures—from nursing home scandals to perceived soft-on-crime stances—while positioning himself as the authentic voice for everyday New Yorkers battered by rising costs and disorder.
The debate pitted Sliwa against Cuomo (independent) and Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams‘ surprise exit earlier this month. Heading in, polls like Quinnipiac and CBS/YouGov showed Sliwa mired in single digits, with Mamdani at 44-46% and Cuomo at 30%. But Sliwa’s command of the stage—interrupting with pointed jabs and delivering policy punches on housing, policing, and transit—has flipped the script, earning him plaudits as the night’s breakout star.
Media Raves: Sliwa as the ‘Clear Winner’ and ‘Most Substantive’
Today’s headlines are ablaze with acclaim for Sliwa’s performance, framing him not just as a spoiler but as a substantive contender injecting vitality into a lackluster field. Politico hailed how Sliwa “wins fans online with [an] idiosyncratic debate performance,” noting his pre-debate nerves gave way to a commanding presence that resonated with voters craving grit over gloss. The New York Post‘s panelists and op-ed writers went further, declaring Sliwa brought “the only real life in the debate” and was “easily the most substantive of the three candidates,” crediting his spirited delivery for evoking the city’s punk-rock past while outlining practical fixes like ICE-focused drug enforcement. CBS News recapped the attacks but spotlighted Sliwa’s ability to “hold his own” amid the fray, with analysts praising his focus on shared NYC goals like mass transit overhaul.
On X, the sentiment echoed loudly. Veteran journalist Henry Goldman tweeted that Sliwa “gained the most from tonight’s NYC mayoral debate… He was the clear winner,” lauding his sophistication on transit and anger at systemic victimhood over rivals’ pettiness. Entertainer Vinnie Medugno called him “articulate, informed, and [speaking] like a leader with a plan,” urging: “It’s common sense—he must be the next mayor of NYC!”
Queens Village Republican Club gushed that Sliwa was “‘OUTSTANDING’ as usual, superb presentation,” predicting his mayoralty with heart emojis aplenty. Even neutral observers like @NcMetsfan admitted: “Man, @CurtisSliwa won that debate for NYC despite not being allowed to fully finish his points.”
Political scientist Eugene Dimitrief summed up the vibe: “Sliwa was the winner… his love for NYC and [fight] for a regular resident was evident.”
Cuomo on the Ropes: ‘Where Were You When Cops Needed You?’
Sliwa’s barbs landed hardest on Cuomo, whom he branded a hypocrite whose “Albany games” fueled the city’s crime spike.
“You talk a big game now, Andrew, but where were you when our cops needed you most?” Sliwa thundered during a policing segment, drawing cheers and viral clips that amassed millions of views on TikTok and X. He doubled down on Cuomo’s family dynasty, quipping, “Cuomo’s name might open doors in Albany, but it closes them on the streets of New York”—a line media outlets like Al Jazeera flagged as a debate highlight for its raw punch.
Cuomo countered by dubbing Sliwa a “publicity-seeking vigilante,” but the ex-gov appeared defensive, admitting post-debate that victory would be “very, very, very hard” with Sliwa splitting the conservative vote—a concession the Daily News spun as desperation. Sliwa fired back on X, demanding Cuomo exit instead: a clip shared widely that amplified calls for the independent to endorse the Republican.
Mamdani held steady on progressive reforms but drew fire for foreign policy detours, with Sliwa accusing him of “pandering to defund the police” while touting his own “walked the beat” cred. CityDeskNYC praised Sliwa’s rebuttal as a “masterclass in confronting reality over radical slogans.”
Momentum Builds: From Underdog to Frontline Contender
Fresh polls haven’t dropped yet, but Fox News’ early read holds Mamdani at 49%, with Sliwa’s online spike—searches for “Sliwa debate” up 300%—hinting at a conservative consolidation. Last month’s bribery allegation against Cuomo’s camp, denied but splashed on ABC7, further burnished Sliwa’s outsider armor.
Sliwa’s team crowed Friday: “New Yorkers tuned in for the fight—and Curtis delivered.”
With early voting looming, all three pledged against federal troops, but Sliwa’s blend of fury and fixes has media buzzing.
In Gotham’s arena, the Guardian Angel might just guard the throne.
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