Trump gains in deep blue area as crime remains a big concern

Despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans in two New York City suburbs, there seems to be a shift to the right that could be a game-changer for Republicans.

At the center of the perceptible change in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties is former President Donald Trump who held a packed rally at the 16,000-seat Nassau Coliseum last week, telling the cheering crowd, “We are going to win New York.”

“Traditionally purple, if not leaning blue, Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties went solidly red in the 2022 midterms even though state voter rolls show Democrats outnumber Republicans in both places,” Fox News noted. “And that may be a bellwether of where things are headed in similar communities around the country.”

The 2022 midterms saw Republicans sweep through much of Suffolk and Nassau County local elections, though Trump squeaked by Joe Biden with less than 250 votes to win Suffolk County in 2020.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman thinks the former president’s message resonates with voters in the suburbs, even in the blue state of New York.

“I think the real catalyst was the crazy way that the Democrats were managing both Washington and Albany,” the Republican told Fox News Digital. “Now, when you talk about cashless bail, when you look at our insecure borders . . . we’re spending billions of dollars on people who have been here for 15 minutes rather than hospitals, infrastructure, schools. People are fed up.”

“I think the Democrats are the ones that are helping us the most, and I think moderate Democrats and independent voters want to vote Republican now because they’re fed up with the policies of Biden-Harris,” Blakeman added.

The Long Island crowd cheered when Trump mentioned that former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin could be part of a future Trump administration if he wins in November. Zeldin, who is from Suffolk County, unsuccessfully challenged Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul in the last New York gubernatorial race.

The Suffolk Police Benevolent Association (PBA) was the first police organization in New York to endorse Trump and its president, Lou Civello, cited the then-president making it “a priority” to help out local law enforcement in combating a scourge of MS-13 violence. Trump pledged in his rally last week that, as president again, he would crack down on migrant crime and address the cashless bail program.

“A new Fox News Poll shows Trump’s suburban advantage in the Empire State is greater than the national average, which favors Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz 51% to 47% for Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance,” Fox News noted. “If Trump’s gains on Long Island are a bellwether for similar communities in the key swing states, it could be huge for his re-election bid.”

Frieda Powers

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles