Curtis Sliwa’s Dramatic Exit from WABC Radio Amid NYC Mayoral Race Tensions
In a heated on-air confrontation that shocked listeners, Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa abruptly quit his position at 77 WABC radio on Wednesday, declaring emphatically, “You will never see me in the studio of WABC ever again.” The Guardian Angels founder’s dramatic exit came during a tense exchange with host Sid Rosenberg, who has been openly pressuring Sliwa to withdraw from the New York City mayoral race. The controversial request stems from Rosenberg’s belief that Sliwa’s continued candidacy is splitting the vote that could otherwise help independent candidate Andrew Cuomo defeat Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. This public falling-out represents a significant rupture in what had been a long-standing professional relationship at one of New York’s most influential talk radio stations.
The conflict extends beyond just Rosenberg, as the station’s Republican owner, John Catsimatidis, has also joined calls for Sliwa to abandon his mayoral aspirations. This united front from WABC leadership clearly wounded Sliwa, who expressed feeling deeply betrayed by those he considered allies. “I feel personally offended by friends and colleagues at WABC,” Sliwa stated with evident emotion during his final broadcast. His parting shot—renaming the station “Always Broadcast Cuomo”—reflected his belief that his former employer had abandoned journalistic neutrality in favor of backing the former governor’s independent bid for mayor. The tension had been building for some time, with Sliwa’s eponymous show notably absent from the airwaves during much of his campaign, despite his status as a recognizable media personality in New York City.
The confrontation highlights the complex intersection of media, politics, and personal loyalty in New York’s high-stakes mayoral race. Sliwa, who rose to prominence as the founder of the citizen patrol group Guardian Angels in the crime-plagued New York of the 1970s and 80s, has long positioned himself as an outsider fighting against entrenched powers. His defiant response to the pressure campaign—”They have been saying I’m selfish, are you out of your mind?”—encapsulates his rejection of the political calculus that would have him step aside for strategic purposes. For Sliwa, the suggestion that he should abandon his campaign appears to have struck at both his personal pride and his genuine belief that he offers New Yorkers a unique alternative in the mayoral contest.
The dramatic split also underscores the increasingly fractious nature of New York City’s current mayoral race, which has featured unexpected twists including Andrew Cuomo’s independent campaign. The former governor, who resigned amid scandal but has sought political redemption through this mayoral bid, has complicated traditional party alignments. WABC’s apparent preference for Cuomo over their own longtime host and Republican standard-bearer Sliwa reveals the fluid political alliances forming in this unconventional election cycle. The station’s calculation seems to be that a consolidated opposition to Democratic nominee Mamdani provides the best chance to prevent a progressive victory, even if that means pressuring their own Republican host to exit the race.
From a media perspective, this incident raises important questions about the role of news organizations in electoral politics. While editorial endorsements are a longstanding tradition, actively pressuring a candidate who is also an employee to withdraw from a race represents a more direct intervention in the democratic process. Sliwa’s accusation that the station has become “Always Broadcast Cuomo” suggests he believes WABC has crossed a line from objective reporting to active campaign interference. For listeners and voters alike, this public dispute offers a rare unfiltered glimpse into how media ownership and political preferences can influence coverage and platform access, potentially shaping electoral outcomes behind the scenes.
As the mayoral race continues without Sliwa’s radio platform, the incident will likely resonate beyond just a personnel change at WABC. For Curtis Sliwa, the loss of his broadcasting position removes a valuable communications channel in the final stretch of his campaign, potentially hampering his ability to reach voters. Yet his dramatic exit may also garner sympathy and attention that could benefit his underdog campaign. Meanwhile, the station must now navigate the fallout from losing a recognizable host while maintaining its credibility with listeners across the political spectrum. Regardless of the election’s outcome, this explosive confrontation between a candidate and his media employer will stand as a noteworthy moment in the intersection of New York media and politics—a reminder that behind the polished broadcasts and campaign speeches, human relationships and raw emotions continue to shape our democratic discourse.
