#Manhattan GOP endorses Fernando Mateo for NYC mayor

The Manhattan Republican Party has endorsed taxi drivers and bodegas advocate Fernando Mateo for mayor.

The New York County GOP Committee selected Mateo over Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa during a meeting Thursday night.

“The city is in desperate need of new leadership bringing the city back to the days of Republican leadership when there was economic prosperity, safe streets and common-sense government in City Hall,” said Manhattan GOP chairwoman Andrea Catsimatidis.

“I am confident with this slate led by Fernando Mateo we will bring our city back to being the greatest city in the world.”

Some GOP insiders said the party’s choice could be a sign that billionaire business mogul John Catsimatidis, the father of the Manhattan Republican leader, will not jump into the race as he did in 2013.

Catsimatidis, the owner of the Gristedes supermarket chain and 77 WABC talk radio, had said he was mulling a run.

Mateo also secured the endorsements of the Bronx and Queens Republican parties.

Sliwa has won the backing of the Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican committees.

“I am so grateful for the leadership and support of Chairwoman Catsimatidis. The Manhattan GOP endorsement put us over the top— without her, I wouldn’t be the presumptive nominee,” Mateo said in a statement.

“Together, we will take the Republican Party into the future and continue to expand our coalition with our historic ticket.”

Other GOP mayoral candidates include financier Sara Tirschwell and retired city cop Bill Pepitone.

More than 40 candidates are running to replace term-limited Mayor de Blasio.

The top Democratic Party contenders include city Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, former de Blasio chief legal counsel Maya Wiley, former city Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, former federal Housing Secretary and President Obama budget director Shaun Donovan, ex-Citigroup executive Ray McGuire, ex-city Veterans Affairs Director Loree Sutton and not-for-profit social services director Diana Morales.