NYC Mayoral Contest: Walden Advocates for 'Free Market' Candidates to Join Forces Against Mamdani
In the upcoming 2025 New York City mayoral election, independent candidate Jim Walden has launched an initiative known as the "Pledge for Our Free Market." The aim is to unite "free market" candidates, including Mayor Eric Adams (independent), Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo (whose decision to run is yet to be announced), against the Democratic socialist nominee, Zohran Mamdani [1][2].
The pledge proposes that a "rigorous, independent poll" will be conducted weeks before the general election to select the single candidate who will rally the "free market" supporters. This strategy is designed to consolidate the vote and potentially defeat Mamdani, whose platform includes policies such as rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, and free public transportation, which have raised concerns among more centrist and conservative voters [1].
However, as of early July 2025, there seems to be no consensus reached among the target candidates regarding the pledge. The Adams, Cuomo, and Sliwa campaigns have not responded to requests for comment about whether they would consider the pledge [5].
Mamdani, who clinched the Democratic nomination this week, has plans to implement policies that could significantly impact the city's economy. These include freezing rent, opening city-owned grocery stores, and making public buses free to ride [4]. The Mamdani campaign has not responded to a request for comment regarding the situation.
Sliwa, on the other hand, has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving the race, stating, "I will only leave in a pine box" [3].
Walden, in a recent statement, emphasised that defeating socialism is central to his mayoral campaign [3]. The "free market" candidates, as proposed by Walden, may be required to endorse the winner of the poll and suspend their campaigns, subject to approval from the NYC Campaign Finance Board [5].
In the final weeks of the Democratic mayoral primary, Mamdani and City Comptroller Brad Lander cross-endorsed each other to keep Andrew Cuomo out of City Hall [6]. Meanwhile, independent and Republican candidates are facing pressure to coalition-build behind a single candidate to beat Mamdani [7].
In summary, the "Pledge for Our Free Market" exists as a proposal but has yet to result in a consolidated front or agreement among candidates to defeat Mamdani in the 2025 NYC mayoral election [1][2][5]. The race remains competitive, with Mamdani as the front-runner, backed by strong union and progressive support.
- The ongoing discussions around the "Pledge for Our Free Market" involve policies and legislation that could significantly affect the outcome of the 2025 New York City mayoral election, with the aim of uniting free market candidates against the Democratic socialist nominee, Zohran Mamdani.
- The debate on policy-and-legislation, particularly the "Pledge for Our Free Market," has become a key aspect of the politics surrounding the 2025 NYC mayoral election, as it involves strategies such as consolidating votes to potentially defeat Mamdani, whose platform includes policies that raise concerns among more centrist and conservative voters.
