Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF):
Steve Bannon and Alex DeGrasse believe New York is shifting right. The MAGA movement is gaining momentum in the Empire State. Working-class voters, minorities, and legal immigrants are driving the change. DeGrasse points to growing support for Trump and Elise Stefanik. The movement is targeting Democrat corruption, state-level overreach, and judicial bias. The fight to flip New York is real—and aggressive.
Bottom Line:
MAGA is on the move in New York. Trump’s influence is strong. Corruption and overreach are fueling voter backlash. Republicans are going on offense. The battle for New York is real—and it’s underway.
Resource for this report:
Deep blue state is swinging ‘aggressively to the right’ and there’s polling to prove its residents are fed up
Main Report:
The political ground in New York is shifting. Steve Bannon and Alex DeGrasse appeared together on Saturday’s WarRoom program to discuss this, and they say it’s not subtle—it’s a populist earthquake. DeGrasse, a seasoned GOP operative, calls it a "MAGA surge.” He believes working-class communities, minority voters, and legal immigrants are abandoning Democrats.
They spoke following a Daily Mail report that featured the MAGA movement in New York as its top global story. Bannon called it "jaw-dropping.” He said it validated what his team has preached for years.
DeGrasse echoed the excitement. "It’s MAGA. It’s grassroots. It’s growing,” he said. He highlighted Trump’s influence in the state, noting he began his journey as a New York Republican. While Trump now lives in Florida, the roots—and energy—are still alive in New York.
The shift is measurable. DeGrasse cited polling that shows movement among key demographics. This includes first-generation immigrants, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Chinese-Americans who value freedom. He says they are turning away from Democrat control and woke ideology.
The Bronx tells the story. It’s seen one of the largest pro-Trump swings since 2020—despite Trump not being on the ballot. South Bronx zip codes have flipped dramatically. These trends, DeGrasse argues, are not isolated. They’re signs of a larger realignment.
Corruption is another key driver. DeGrasse pointed to Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James. He accused them of running a Marxist, corrupt machine out of Albany. He mentioned a $10 million slush fund hidden in the budget to pay James’ lawyers.
"There are more arrests and corruption in Albany than anywhere else in America,” he said. "And people are waking up.”
DeGrasse sees Elise Stefanik as a serious contender to take on Hochul in 2026. The left is already trying to intimidate her, he said. Dark money groups are organizing protests. But that hasn’t slowed down the momentum.
Republicans are now playing offense. DeGrasse believes flipping New York would be the most significant victory since Trump’s 2016 win. It would be symbolic—and real. "New York is the heart of the Democrat machine,” he said. "Taking it down is everything.”
DeGrasse added historical weight to the discussion, highlighting Fort Ticonderoga for its 250th anniversary. The reenactment on Saturday marked the first American offensive victory in the Revolutionary War. DeGrasse said winning New York would be today’s equivalent.
The campaign won’t be cheap. DeGrasse estimates $100–150 million will be needed to fund this statewide effort. But donors are lining up. Supporters are fired up. And the MAGA coalition in New York is now over 3.5 million strong.
Upstate rallies are growing. Protesters are out in force, but so are patriots. Stefanik’s events draw crowds. Energy is high. The left, they say, is afraid.
For more context, watch Saturday’s WarRoom segment featuring Alex DeGrasse and this quick hit:
MAGA SHIFTED NEW YORK STATE TO THE RIGHT
"It's working class. It's first generation legal immigrants, it's African Americans, it's Hispanics, Asians." — The left is petrified. @Degrasse81 pic.twitter.com/ahXONc74Kz— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) May 10, 2025
