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Trump makes pitch to NY voters: 'What the hell do you have to lose?'

By Tara Suter - 9/17/24, 3:54 PM EDT

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Former President Trump made a pitch to New York voters in a Truth Social post Tuesday afternoon in spite of the state’s historically Democratic voting record.

“Nassau Coliseum, on Long Island, will be a really big deal tomorrow. It will be PACKED with Patriots! We have a real chance of winning, for the first time in many decades, New York,” Trump, who is originally from New York, said in his post.

“Hundreds of thousands of Migrants, Crime at record levels, Terrorists pouring in, Inflation eating your hearts out - WHAT THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE? VOTE FOR TRUMP! I will turn it around, get SALT back, lower your Taxes, and so much more. I’ll work with the Democrat Governor and Mayor, and make sure the funding is there to bring New York State back to levels it hasn’t seen for 50 years. People are fleeing, maybe we’ll get them to 'flee back!'” Trump continued in his lengthy post.

The former president is set to make a stop in Uniondale, N.Y., on Wednesday for a rally. Wednesday was also the day Judge Juan Merchan was set to sentence Trump in his New York hush money case.

Trump lost the Empire State in both 2016 and 2020, but New York is an important state for the GOP if they want to hold onto their small House majority in 2024. Multiple Republicans in House seats in New York including Reps. Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Anthony D’Esposito and Brandon Williams face tough races in the upcoming cycle.

Trump’s Tuesday words about seemingly working alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) also come in spite of his previous negative comments toward her. Just last month, he went after her over her speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

“Kathy Hochul, the very unpopular Governor of New York, was the nastiest speaker on Monday evening (at the Democrat National Convention) as it pertains to your favorite President, me,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Her total hatred, and statements made about me, had no bounds.”

The Hill has reached out to Hochul’s press office.

“We don’t comment on hypotheticals,” Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s (D) office, said in an email.

Story was updated at 10:31 p.m. ET

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