(Headline USA) Former President Donald Trump weighed into a contentious New York Democratic primary race this week in a not-so-subtle attempt to stir the pot.
Trump announced his endorsements for Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who is running in New York’s 10th district, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., who is running in New York’s 12th congressional district.
Both Goldman and Maloney voted to impeach Trump before he left office. However, both now find themselves forced into intra-party primary battles with other high-profile incumbents.
New York Democrats are licking their wounds after the Democrat-controlled state legislature was determined to have violated the state constitution by gerrymandering its districts in the hope of securing a more favorable advantage for the party.
Their inability to redraw the maps in a timely manner punted the decision to a pro-Trump federal judge, resulting in the shuffle that left several Big Apple lawmakers without a seat.
Goldman’s race pitts him against Mondaire Jones, a radical second-generation “Squad” member who has regularly used inflammatory rhetoric and pushed identity politics while touting his status as a gay, black man. Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio briefly flirted for a run in the district before dropping out with little hope of prevailing in the crowded field.
“Lawyer Dan Goldman is running for Congress, NY-10, and it is my great honor to Strongly Endorse him. I do this not because of the fact that he headed up the Impeachment Committee and lost, but because he was honorable, fair, and highly intelligent,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
“While it was my honor to beat him, and beat him badly, Dan Goldman has a wonderful future ahead,” he added.
Maloney, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, is bogged down in an even more contentious race, pitting her against current House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler.
“A vote for Carolyn Maloney in NY-12 is a vote for the future! She is a kind and wonderful person, who has always said terrific things about me, and will support me no matter what I do, just as I supported her very early on,” Trump joked.
“She begged for a check with no quid pro quo, and I gave it to her. In fact, I gave her many,” he said. “Carolyn Maloney is the better man. She will lead our country into a very GREEN and prosperous future. Carolyn has my complete and Total Endorsement, she will never let our Conservative Movement down.”
Goldman blasted Trump for trying to “meddle” in the primary races, but his opponent, New York Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, was quick to take advantage of Trump’s endorsement.
“Donald Trump just endorsed my multi-millionaire opponent, in case you needed a reminder of what the stakes are. #NY10, choose your fighter,” she said.
Maloney also blasted Trump, calling his endorsement “laughable.”
“Trump doesn’t respect women,” she claimed in response. “He instigated the attacks on January 6th and claimed that the 2020 election was a big lie. He should be more concerned about the investigation I’m leading as Chair of the Oversight Committee into the storage of his classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll pass.”
Headline USA’s Ben Sellers contributed to this report.
