Trump announces rallies in deep-blue states

Trump’s campaign announced rallies in Aurora, Colorado, and Coachella, California, for Friday and Saturday, respectively, on Monday evening. California and Colorado are rated as “solid Democrat” states by the Cook Political Report but still have key points for Trump’s goal of returning to the White House with a GOP Congress.

In California, several key House races could determine control of the lower chamber of Congress. Republicans hold a slim majority in the House, which they won in 2022, thanks largely to wins in swing districts in deep-blue states, such as New York and California.

Trump held a rally in New York last month as various Republican incumbents face tough battles to hold on to their House seats, while the GOP also has eyes on flipping some Democratic-held swing seats.

Five GOP-held House seats in California are rated as “toss-up” races by the Cook Political Report, including the seats held by Reps. John Duarte (R-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Mike Garcia (R-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), and Michelle Steel (R-CA). Democratic-held seats that could be flipped include those held by Reps. Josh Harder (D-CA) and Mike Levin (D-CA), whose races are both rated as “likely Democrat,” and the seat held by outgoing Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), which has been rated as “lean Democrat” by the Cook Political Report.

While California is a Democratic stronghold, some factors could help Republicans in downballot races. In the Senate race, which is expected to be easily won by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a Republican candidate, Steve Garvey, advanced to the general election after Senate races in 2016 and 2018 were between two Democrats in the general elections. Another factor that could help Republicans is Proposition 36, a ballot measure seeking to increase charges and prison sentences for several drug and theft charges, which voters will decide alongside the other races.

It’s not clear if Trump stumping for Garvey or any of the House members is going to change the outcome of their races. However, he has made addressing illegal immigration and rising crime key parts of his platform. And his efforts to highlight both problems plaguing large, important California cities could remind voters about the alternatives to Democratic dominance in the state.

Trump’s Aurora, Colorado, rally delivers on a promise he made during his New York rally last month. He said he would visit Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, in the coming weeks after making the two cities examples in arguing for his proposed immigration policies, including deportations of illegal immigrants.

In his campaign’s announcement of the rally, Trump called the Colorado city a “war zone” because of the alleged activities of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, around the town and specifically at an apartment complex.

“These violent criminals are destroying the safety and security of Aurora’s apartment complexes, and yet, the Harris-Biden administration continues to allow illegal immigrants to cross the borders unchecked,” the campaign said.

“Kamala’s border bloodbath has made every state a border state, leaving Colorado families at the mercy of criminals. The only solution to stop the border crisis is to elect President Trump, who will secure the border, deport dangerous criminals, and Make America Safe Again,” the announcement added.

Authorities have downplayed allegations that the gang has caused wide-scale problems for the city and apartment complexes, but police and local politicians have said the gang has caused problems at some properties in the city.

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Trump’s rally in Aurora is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern on Friday, while his California rally is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

The rallies come in the home stretch of the presidential race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, with 28 days until Election Day and early voting already open in various key states.