Trump Takes New York

For many, the New York Primaries were a mixed bag of emotions. Heading into Tuesday’s primary, the #NeverTrump crowd was praying for an upset for a candidate who seemed, in recent weeks, to have hit a brick wall with his momentum. As the Trump train signaled distress, New Yorkers flocked to the polls and handed Trump a “YUGE” victory.

While Trump took home a win in his home state of New York, his home district of Manhattan did not deliver. Instead, Manhattan opted for Kasich over Trump 45% to 42%. As someone who went to college in Western New York, Trump’s victory across the rural and suburban parts of New York state is not surprising, nor is his loss in Manhattan. Based on the votes cast in New York, there are not many Republicans left in the borough. At first glance, Trump faired better on the East side and the northern part of the island, including the Clinton neighborhood. Looking deeper into the data, Kasich did better in the Financial District and historically liberal areas of the city such as Greenwich Village. As the GOP vote paled in comparison to the Democratic vote, Republicans did leave a message in Manhattan to the rest of the country, there is still an establishment in New York City and its trusted John Kasich over their residential real estate mogul.

Even while Trump stumbled to gain back lost traction the past couple of weeks, he was able to win 84 delegates in the Empire State. However, his win on Tuesday does not automatically translate into smooth sailing for the Donald. In order to avoid a contested convention Trump must secure 1237 pledged delegates. Making his path to the nomination a very narrow one.