(GoRealNewsNow.com) – Republican Nikki Haley says former president Donald Trump is to blame for the GOP losing a key House seat in New York. Haley’s team says Trump’s influence hurts the party with moderate voters in places like New York’s third district.
“Let’s just say the quiet part out loud. Donald Trump continues to be a huge weight against Republican candidates. Despite the enormous and obvious failings of Joe Biden, we just lost another winnable Republican House seat because voters overwhelmingly reject Donald Trump,” said Olivia Perez-Cubas, a spokesperson for Haley.
Haley’s team believes the party needs fresh leadership that appeals more to Americans.
Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, won back the seat in New York’s third district by beating Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip with 53.9% of the vote to Pilip’s 46.1%. The race was tight, and bad weather on election day might have affected how many people came out to vote. Pilip gave up after the race was called for Suozzi.
This district, which leans a bit Democratic, could show what’s in store for Republicans in future tight races. The election focused heavily on illegal immigration, a big issue because of high levels of migration affecting cities like New York.
Trump criticized Pilip for not supporting him or his MAGA movement.
“I have an almost 99% Endorsement Success Rate in Primaries, and a very good number in the General Elections, as well, but just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, running in a race where she didn’t endorse me and tried to ‘straddle the fence,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“MAGA, WHICH IS MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, STAYED HOME – AND IT ALWAYS WILL, UNLESS IT IS TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES.”
Haley and Trump are set to compete in the South Carolina Republican primary on February 24. Trump is ahead of Haley in her own state by an average of 33.5 percent, according to RealClearPolitics.
Haley’s campaign is looking ahead to Super Tuesday, right after the South Carolina primary.