As the 2024 presidential election enters its final stretch, Donald Trump is taking an unconventional route in his campaign strategy. This weekend, the former president held a rally in California’s Coachella Valley, a region known for its liberal leanings. The rally is part of a series of stops Trump is making in deep-blue states, including New York and Illinois, as he gears up for the final push to Election Day. The strategy has raised eyebrows, with many questioning whether Trump is abandoning key battleground states in favor of showy rallies in areas where he has little chance of winning.
A Surprising Move into Democratic Strongholds
The Coachella rally on Saturday was just one of several events Trump has planned in traditionally Democratic states as part of his effort to reach a broader audience. His campaign plans include a stop at New York’s Madison Square Garden later this month and an event in Chicago on Tuesday. These appearances are a break from the typical focus on swing states that usually dominate the final weeks of presidential campaigns.
Though Trump has little hope of flipping solidly blue states like California or New York, his allies argue that these detours serve a larger purpose. With massive Republican voter bases in these states, Trump sees the rallies as a way to energize supporters, raise funds, and assist down-ballot candidates in competitive races. According to Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, the Coachella stop was meant to highlight the “failings” of Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native, as Trump continues to frame his campaign as a fight against Democratic leadership across the country.
Rallying the Base – Even in Blue States
Trump’s detour into states like California may not be about winning those electoral votes outright but rather about energizing his base and keeping media attention on his campaign. In interviews, Trump has repeatedly claimed—without evidence—that he could win California if it had “an honest election,” despite losing the state by 29 points in 2020. His appearance in Coachella drew criticism from local officials like Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez, who denounced Trump’s stance on immigration and his attacks on marginalized communities.
Nonetheless, Trump believes these large rallies are an important barometer of his support. “The bigger the rally, the more attention it will get,” a senior Trump adviser said, referencing the planned event at Madison Square Garden on October 27, which could become one of the most high-profile moments of his final campaign sprint. The rally also sets the stage for Trump to potentially cast doubt on the election results if Harris wins, playing into his repeated rhetoric about voter fraud.
A Broader Strategy to Mobilize Non-Traditional Voters
Beyond the in-person rallies, Trump’s campaign has embraced a broader media strategy aimed at reaching voters who typically do not engage with traditional politics. The campaign has focused heavily on digital platforms, with Trump recently appearing on YouTube shows and podcasts that attract younger and less politically active audiences. This approach mirrors Harris’ own strategy, as she too has targeted specific voter groups with appearances on podcasts and interviews aimed at connecting with diverse communities.
While political analysts note that Trump is unlikely to flip states like California or New York, his campaign believes that these rallies and media appearances are critical to driving turnout and engagement across the board. With Vice President Harris also focusing her efforts on key swing states, the closing weeks of the campaign are shaping up to be a showdown between two distinct strategies—one focused on swing voters, the other on energizing the base.
Criticism and the Risk of Electoral Distraction
Trump’s rallies in blue states have sparked debate within his own party, with some Republicans questioning whether this strategy is the best use of time and resources. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat, expressed skepticism about Trump’s decision to campaign in deep-blue areas, calling his Colorado stop “a complete waste of his time.” Nonetheless, Trump’s team remains confident that these rallies will not only galvanize his core supporters but also help push his messaging across national media platforms.
In many ways, Trump’s focus on large-scale events reflects his belief that crowd size equates to electoral success. But whether this strategy will translate into the votes needed to win swing states remains to be seen. As the former president prepares for more high-profile rallies, the true impact of his blue-state detours will only become clear as Election Day approaches.
