Donald Trump, with only a remaining 25 days to drum up support and funds for the upcoming election against Kamala Harris, is not focusing his efforts in key swing states. Surprisingly, he has decided to conduct a significant event this Saturday in the California desert, which is more recognized for music festivals rather than being a stronghold of supporters for the former President.
California as a state does not play a significant role in Trump’s bid for the White House, however, his decision to visit Coachella can potentially be linked to the 2020 election. Of the six competitive house races in California, Trump is deciding to drop in on the only district he previously claimed victory in four years ago. This district is currently represented by GOP Rep. Ken Calvert.
Interesting to note is that in 2020, Trump managed a narrow victory in Calvert’s district. Now, Calvert finds himself in a tense race against a Democratic challenger with a sizable funding, Will Rollins. Trump’s presence could potentially ignite the voter base and aid Calvert in achieving a win as the race is currently at a standstill.
According to Joy Miedecke, president of the East Valley Republican Women Patriots, their patriotic store is witnessing a surge in Republicans keen on purchasing Trump merchandise as the rally approaches.
Although the focus is largely on Trump, as Miedecke highlights, Republicans also have their eyes firmly on other ballot races, notably Calvert’s. Many Republicans are driven to cast their votes because of the intense competition between Calvert and Rollins.
The campaigns for both Rollins and Calvert have remained relatively silent. Calvert’s team is yet to confirm their attendance at the rally. This highlights the tricky equilibrium that vulnerable California Republicans need to maintain. They require Trump’s backing to invigorate their foundation but also need to maintain a safe distance, as Trump is not popular in many districts.
Ben Petersen, spokesperson for the NRCC stated that President Trump’s rally is igniting voters who will reelect Representative Ken Calvert and prevent extreme liberal Will Rollins.
According to Trump’s campaign, the rally is also seen as an opportunity to reach out to Latino voters, focussing on affordability and economic issues. Polling data from USC suggests that Trump is resonating better with Latino voters in Calvert’s district compared to other swing seats.
Despite the potential benefits, not everyone is receptive to Trump’s visit. Leading a counter-protest, Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez made a statement that they will not tolerate remarks directed at their community from Trump. ‘We’re not going to be intimidated,” Hernandez said.
Dan Gottlieb from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not hesitate to criticize Calvert, saying, “Even after Trump tried to block disaster aid for our firefighters, jacked up Californians’ taxes to reward buddies in other states, and bragged about taking reproductive freedom away from women, Ken Calvert is right there, sitting on Trump’s lap, applauding.”
One of the final points Miedecke made was that the RNC requested that McDonald’s hamburgers be delivered to Trump’s plane after the rally. In a playful jest, she added a true lover of California would have chosen In-N-Out over McDonald’s.
