Trump to Campaign for Lawler in New York

President Trump is set to return to his home state of New York this Friday, where he’ll be campaigning for Rep. Mike Lawler, who’s considered one of the most vulnerable House Republicans in the nation.

The event, taking place at Rockland Community College, will spotlight issues like affordability and tax relief, specifically their efforts to raise the state and local tax (SALT) cap.

Lawler expressed his belief that it’s vital for voters to hear directly from the president. “The public needs to hear directly from the president on these matters, and my district is not just highly competitive but also one where the president has made significant inroads,” he remarked.

Trump’s influence appears to be noted, especially since Joe Biden won New York’s 17th Congressional District by a 10-point margin in 2020. However, in recent months, Trump has considerably narrowed that gap, with Vice President Kamala Harris only leading by a single point in the ongoing 2024 race.

Lawler mentioned, “There’s been considerable change, and I think people are really looking forward to welcoming the president.” His campaign has already seen around 5,000 registrations for the event.

Heading into the 2026 midterm elections, economic issues top the priority list for voters. Interestingly, only 33% of respondents recently supported President Trump, according to a New York Times/Siena Poll.

Despite this, Trump is expected to focus on his economic achievements, which he’ll highlight in an effort to keep the Republican majority in the House. White House press secretary Liz Houston stated, “The president will emphasize how he and Congressional Republicans delivered the largest tax cuts in history for the middle class, raising the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000.”

Houston also indicated that Trump will contrast these accomplishments with Congressional Democrats, who voted against tax cuts benefiting working families, like the SALT cap lift and others.

For Lawler’s constituents, SALT is a significant issue. He, along with other Republicans from high-tax districts, has been lobbying leaders on Capitol Hill and the White House to expand the deduction during negotiations over Trump’s One Big Beautiful Buildings Act. Lawler showed persistence, even at the risk of upsetting the president. Ultimately, in a successful push, the SALT cap increased drastically.

Lawler remarked, “By raising the SALT cap, over 90% of my constituents now enjoy fully deductible state and local taxes. I consider this a major win for my district, as people noticed the difference in their refund checks.”

The Cook Political Report has rated Lawler as the “most at-risk,” and there’s expected to be significant Democratic investment in the district. Currently, three Democrats are leading the charge in the upcoming June 23 primary: Kate Conley, Beth Davidson, and Effie Phillips-Staley.

This Friday marks the first presidential visit to Rockland County in 50 years. Lawler has been representing the district since 2023 and secured re-election in 2024 by a narrow four-point margin. Last summer, he opted against a gubernatorial run after Trump encouraged him to seek reelection to the House.