Former President Trump held a campaign rally at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Nassau County on September 18, an unusual occurrence for a state that has not been remotely competitive in the presidential election for nearly four decades.
Other than its location, the rally was a relatively standard one, at least by Trump’s standards, in that he spoke for nearly an hour-and-a-half and strayed from his prepared remarks often (One such diversion included comparing himself to Elvis Presley, saying that he was “maybe greater even than Elvis.”). He also repeated falsehoods that have permeated his public appearances, including those about the 2020 election and immigration.
Additionally, Trump stated several times throughout the night that he was going to win New York State, where a Harris win is all but inevitable. These remarks, while appearing relatively benign, were characterized by some political observers as part of a broader effort to sow doubt about the 2024 election.
If there was a true political reason for the visit, it was likely to support Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming election. Long Island, while not seen as a battleground for the presidential race, does include several close House races that could determine which party will control the lower house of Congress.
This assertion is supported by the fact that the rally was held in the 4th congressional district which is currently represented by Anthony D’Esposito (R). He first won the district in 2022 in what was seen as an upset victory, and the district is seen by Democrats as a prime pickup opportunity. (Democrats have become even more focused on flipping the seat after the New York Times reported that D’Esposito employed his fiancée’s daughter and his mistress for several months, potentially breaking several ethics rules in the process. However, this story broke several days after the Trump rally.)
D’Esposito was one of many Long Island Republican politicians to speak before Trump, and this list included Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-1) who represents, among other communities, the Three Village area, in Congress. LaLota is also facing a potentially close race, but he is far more likely to keep his seat than D’Esposito. Their appearances at the Trump rally seemed to be a break, however brief, from campaign strategies that have emphasized bipartisanship, and gave their opponents in congressional races an opportunity to pounce on what they call loyalty to Trump and his radical brand of politics as opposed to service to the people.
In particular, John Avlon, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 1st district, posted on X, “No-Show Nick skipped out on work today to attend the Trump rally.” “Instead of bending the knee to Trump, he should be delivering for Suffolk County families. Choosing partisan fights over common sense problem solving is a firing offense.”
