Exclusive: A New York Democratic congressional candidate running against Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik suggested that “MAGA” supporters should attend “re-education camps” after the 2024 elections, even if Democrats predict a “landslide victory.”
Paula Collins, Stefanik’s opponent in New York’s 21st Congressional District, made the remarks during a public Zoom town hall this week, seemingly acknowledging that “retraining” would be controversial.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” has become a dirty word on the left. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“Even if there is an overwhelming wave of Democratic support, as many of us hope, we will move past this MAGA nightmare and essentially undo everything and re-educate. That sounds more like a re-education camp. We don’t really want to call it that,” she said during a town hall meeting over Zoom. “I’m sure we can phrase it differently.”
Stefanik files ethics complaint against Trump trial judge, citing daughter’s work for Democratic promotion group
Collins explained her comments in an email to Fox News Digital.
“Right now we have lawmakers, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, who are misquoting and misinterpreting the law,” Collins told Fox News Digital. “Even if MAGA loses in a big way, we need to address widespread civics education, which voters on both sides of the aisle acknowledge has lagged in recent years.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Chair of the House Republican Conference, speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol honoring law enforcement as part of Police Week, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“The goal is to help the public understand the process by which state courts handle cases compared to the federal circuit courts,” Collins said.
“Representative Elise Stefanik does not fully understand the structure of the courts in her home state of New York,” Collins continued.
Paula Collins and Elise Stefanick (Rep. Paula Collins/Getty Images)
Collins cited Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against former President Trump, in which Bragg was convicted of falsifying business records. Collins said the trial and prosecution were “a state matter, not a federal matter.”
Collins said Stefanik’s “protest speaks to a lack of basic civics education and a basic lack of respect for the state supreme court system in her home state of New York.”
Some formerly “anti-Trump” voters now say they’ll support a Republican candidate who convicts a convicted felon.
“Similarly, many voters have a misconception or disregard for basic justice systems that underscore the need for civics education,” Collins said.
But Alex DeGrasse, a senior adviser to Elise Stefanik, said Collins’ comments will be uncomfortable for many Republicans.
“This radical Democratic socialist, who is literally renting a room at a bed and breakfast in New York City, was recorded talking about wanting to force Trump supporters into ‘re-education camps,'” he said. “We all know she’s going to lose to Elise Stefanik by a historic margin.”
“This is one more reason why President Trump, Elise Stefanik, voters in upstate New York and across the country will overwhelmingly vote Democrats at the polls in November,” deGrasse added.
DeGrasse was referring to Collins being a New York City native, who said he would be a full-time resident there until the spring of 2024.
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Collins is a cannabis tax attorney in New York.
Collins is based in New York City from her law firm, the Law Office of Paula Collins, PLLC, according to campaign documents, but currently rents a room in Canton, New York, claiming to be a resident of the district.
Collins has never voted in this district.
