For the first time in 40 years, a Republican intends to gain serious support in New York. Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign event in the Bronx, one of the most Democratic areas of the state.
Trump took to social media to announce his visit, stating, “We’re coming to the Bronx,” ahead of his Wednesday event at Crotona Park, a public park in one of New York City’s most diverse and economically challenged boroughs. The campaign expects a turnout of a couple of thousand supporters.
The Bronx, with its population predominantly Hispanic and Black, is one of the most Democratic-dominated counties in the U.S., with roughly a third of its residents living below the poverty line, according to Census data. Despite the borough’s political leanings, Trump’s campaign believes that the former president’s message can resonate with voters there.
“President Trump is unafraid to bring his message to every borough of New York, to every corner of this great country, because he believes his message is a winning one,” said Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Recent polls indicate that Trump is making inroads with Black and Hispanic voters, particularly younger males who may be disillusioned with current economic conditions and drawn to Trump’s assertive style.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a potential running mate for Trump who grew up in New York City, will join the former president at the Bronx event. “The strategy is to demonstrate to the voters of the Bronx and New York that this isn’t your typical presidential election, that Donald Trump is here to represent everybody and get our country back on track,” Donalds told.
The GOP’s recent gains in the Bronx, such as winning a city council seat for the first time in four decades, highlight potential shifts in voter sentiment. New York City Councilman Joe Borelli emphasized, “There is improvement. And you have to question why there wouldn’t be more. Who has been in charge of the Bronx for the better part of a generation? It’s been Democrats at every level at local, state, and federal government.”
Trump’s campaign event coincides with a brief pause in his ongoing criminal trial. The trial involves charges of falsifying business records related to payments made during the 2016 election to Stormy Daniels to silence allegations of an affair. However, Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations and described the case as a “sham trial instigated and prosecuted directly from the inner halls of the White House and DOJ.”
Trump made several stops during the campaign, including a visit to a wine cellar in Harlem, a construction site and a local fire station, where he was enthusiastically received. The increasing number of Trump supporters in traditionally democratic States shows that he has more and more chances to win the upcoming elections.
