With just 30 days left until the US presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump’s campaign team announced on Monday (October 7th) that Trump would hold a rally in a deep blue district in California this Saturday, where he will deliver a speech addressing the increasing cost of living, expected to discuss the issue in the hometown state of Governor Gavin Newsom.
Trump is scheduled to hold the rally on October 12th at the Calhoun Ranch in Coachella, Riverside County, Southern California. This will mark Trump’s first event in Riverside County.
While Trump has previously visited California for fundraisers and press events, he rarely holds rallies with supporters in the state. Trump plans to hold two events in Pennsylvania on Wednesday before heading west.
Trump’s campaign team stated, “Under the leadership of dangerous Democratic allies like Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi, the infamous ‘California Dream’ has turned into a nightmare for ordinary Americans.” They further highlighted, “Under the ‘Gavinomics’, Californians are struggling to cope with rising prices of food, housing, and various goods, making it hard to breathe.”
“This is the future Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi want to bring to America – suffocating inflation, unaffordable housing, and high gas prices. If this is the California dream, then it is the most terrifying nightmare for every American,” wrote Trump’s campaign team.
California has long been considered a stronghold for the Democratic Party, with the district in Coachella where the rally will take place historically won by Democratic candidates, including current President Biden and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Additionally, the congressional seats in the district are also held by Democrats.
Data shows that Coachella has a population of around 42,000 people, with approximately 58% of voters being Democrats and only 14% Republicans. 98% of the city’s residents are of Hispanic descent, with 41% of the population born outside of the United States. Four years ago, Biden defeated Trump by a margin of 78% to 20%, easily securing victory in the city.
Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for Gavin Newsom’s campaign team, believes that Trump’s decision to hold a rally in California during the final stretch of the election is not a wise choice. He points out that Trump should focus his efforts on more competitive swing states rather than deep blue California.
It remains unclear whether Trump will visit other areas in California. Randall Avila, the Republican Executive Director of Orange County, stated that Trump’s visit is not expected to include Orange County.