Former President Donald Trump is expanding his campaign beyond the usual battleground states, focusing his attention on suburban New York in an effort to bolster Republican chances in crucial congressional districts.
Trump will rally in Uniondale, Long Island, on Wednesday, underscoring his party’s strategy to defend vulnerable House seats in Democratic-leaning areas, including those that President Joe Biden won in 2020.
Long Island is home to one of the most closely watched races in the country, where Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a former NYPD detective, is fighting to retain his seat against Democratic challenger Laura Gillen. D’Esposito’s district voted for Biden by a margin of 15 points in 2020, making this a significant race for both parties as they vie for control of the House.
Trump, in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, voiced optimism about the GOP’s prospects in New York, stating that Republicans have “a real chance of winning” the state for the first time in decades. He also emphasized his commitment to repealing the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, a key issue for many residents of high-tax states like New York and New Jersey, where tax bills have risen since the cap was imposed as part of his 2017 tax reform.
While New York is not typically a focus for presidential campaigns, Trump’s decision to campaign there signals the GOP’s determination to protect its seats in Democratic-heavy areas. This could prove pivotal in determining control of the House of Representatives.
On the Democratic side, Vice President Kamala Harris is focusing her efforts on reaching out to key voter groups, including Latino voters, with her Wednesday speech at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Harris has planned trips to Michigan and Wisconsin later in the week, keeping her campaign anchored in critical swing states.
Trump’s focus on New York reflects a broader GOP strategy to defend and expand its congressional presence, while Harris’s engagement with critical voter blocs demonstrates the Democrats’ efforts to solidify support in key areas as both campaigns gear up for the final stretch before Election Day.
With input from the Associated Press, the New York Times.
