Gaetz: Black, MAGA voters could back Adams for NYC mayor to stop Mamdani

Former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz suggested Monday that black voters and GOP voters in New York City could team up and vote for mayoral candidate Eric Adams over Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani.

"Is there some real fusion of MAGA and the black vote that kind of continues into a new evolution, with Eric Adams potentially getting a Donald Trump endorsement and still having the support of a lot of black voters?" Gaetz asked on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast.

Last month, Democratic socialist Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He now faces Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Adams, who ran as an independent. 

"It was black voters in the Democratic primary that elected Joe Biden over Bernie Sanders, because a lot of black voters over the age of 55 aren't here for the socialism message," Gaetz said. 

Adams slammed Mamdani's victory, claiming he is a "snake oil salesman" who is "saying anything to get elected." 

Gaetz said Adams is the only candidate who can potentially beat Mamdani.

"Eric Adams' candidacy is a platform where you could try to build a coalition of Democrats, black voters and Republicans who simply... the unifying principle is the rejection of socialism," he said.