Adams Cites AI Analysis, Alleges Sliwa Attacks Cuomo 2-5 Times More Than Mamdani

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has publicly accused Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa of acting as a "tool" to split votes, thereby aiding Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani's campaign. The accusation, made on social media, included data from a ChatGPT analysis of Sliwa's recent posts, suggesting a significant disparity in his criticism towards political rivals.

According to the analysis cited by Mayor Adams, Curtis Sliwa's last 100 social media posts (across Twitter and Instagram) contained approximately 28-48 direct criticisms of Andrew Cuomo, compared to 9-19 criticisms aimed at Zohran Mamdani. Adams stated, "CURTIS SLIWA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOOL OF THE ZOHRAN MAMDANI CAMPAIGN TO SPLIT THE VOTE AND LET SOCIALISM HURT OUR CITY." This implies that Sliwa's focus on Cuomo disproportionately benefits Mamdani in the ongoing 2025 mayoral race.

Curtis Sliwa, a perennial Republican candidate and former Guardian Angels founder, previously ran for mayor in 2021. His continued presence in the 2025 general election is viewed by some as a potential spoiler, drawing votes that might otherwise go to more mainstream candidates. The concept of "vote-splitting" is a recurring theme in multi-candidate elections, particularly when a third-party or minor-party candidate is perceived to draw support from a major party.

Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assemblymember and self-identified Democratic Socialist, recently secured the Democratic nomination for the 2025 mayoral election, having defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the primary. His progressive platform, which includes proposals for universal childcare and social housing, has been characterized as "socialism" by critics, including Mayor Adams. The use of AI tools like ChatGPT for political analysis highlights an emerging trend in campaign strategies.

The Mayor's direct use of a social media analysis tool to bolster his political claims marks a notable development in campaign rhetoric. This strategic deployment of data aims to frame Sliwa's campaign as intentionally weakening opposition to Mamdani. The 2025 mayoral election is shaping up to be a contentious race, with Adams' comments adding another layer to the complex political dynamics.