Former President Trump is making campaign stops in New Mexico and Virginia, two states that have leaned blue in the past two decades. Despite their historical Democratic leanings, Trump and his team see opportunities in both states. The Republican National Committee argues that Trump will be a president for all Americans, including those in traditionally blue states like Virginia and New Mexico. Polls indicate that Harris holds a lead over Trump in New Mexico, while in Virginia, the Democratic presidential nominee also leads in polling. Trump held a rally in Virginia earlier this year and is returning to the state to capitalize on a recent federal judge’s ruling to reinstate voters who did not meet citizenship requirements, a move he claims is election interference.
Even though Trump has not visited New Mexico in five years, he is making a campaign stop in the state in hopes of gaining support for his America First message and vision for hardworking families. Despite New Mexico’s historical Democratic leanings, the Trump campaign believes there is potential to sway voters. The Democratic Party of New Mexico claims that Trump is wasting his time in the state as polling shows New Mexicans are likely to reject his divisive rhetoric. With time ticking down towards Election Day, Trump’s decision to campaign in New Mexico and Virginia signifies his effort to connect with voters in traditionally blue states.
In Virginia, Trump held a large rally in the southeastern corner of the state earlier this year. Polls indicate that the Democratic presidential nominee holds a lead over Trump in Virginia. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has also expressed optimism about the GOP’s chances of winning the state. Trump criticized a recent federal judge’s ruling in Virginia to restore more than 1,500 people to the state’s voter rolls, falsely claiming that Harris was behind the decision and calling it election interference. The state has filed an emergency stay application to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the lower court ruling, but Trump’s rally in Virginia aims to capitalize on the controversy surrounding the issue of voter eligibility.
Political scientist David Richards of the University of Lynchburg suggests that Trump’s rally in Virginia may not necessarily help him win the state, but serves a larger purpose in generating national attention around the issue of voter eligibility. This move aligns with Trump’s narrative about illegal immigrants attempting to vote in the election. Despite the polling indicating a lead for Harris in Virginia, Trump and his team are looking to attract support in traditionally blue states like Virginia and New Mexico. By campaigning in these states, Trump aims to appeal to voters who feel neglected by the Democratic party and present himself as a candidate for all Americans, regardless of their state’s political leanings.
