Staten Island Democrat Max Rose sounds a lot like Donald Trump — and plans to use the president's style to win in a congressional district that went Republican in 2016.
The 31-year-old Army veteran told BuzzFeed News that his constituents in the Trump-loving district regularly ask him if he plans on working with the president when and if he goes to Congress. Surprisingly, Rose said he will.
"If you think that I’m going to go to Washington and look at all this opportunity to start getting to work, but then sit back and wait because it might hurt our chances to win in 2020," he said, "you’re crazy."
Rose is one of multiple New York Democrats who've excelled precisely because they eschew party norms, the report noted, citing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Presley. That same playbook worked for Trump on the other side of the aisle, too.
"His priorities don’t necessarily contradict Trump’s cultural ones like securing the border, funding the military, and honoring veterans and first responders," BuzzFeed reported.
The candidate's bucking of party line has led him to criticize New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio with as much candor as he has the president — in a September campaign ad, the report noted, Rose said the mayor "acts like Staten Island doesn’t even exist."
He's also used his status as a decorated Army veteran, perhaps his greatest bait for the conservative-leaning voters of the district, to stand up for minorities that have at times been targeted by the president and his supporters.
After a video of a woman who identified herself as Ashley berating a hijab-clad Muslim woman went viral, Rose said in a statement that "I and so many other veterans fought for rights Ashley claims this woman doesn't have."
"We defended the values of equality and tolerance that she clearly has no respect for," the candidate said. "These actions do not represent Staten Island, Brooklyn or New York City."
Democratic National Committee vice chair and NYC public advocate candidate Mike Blake lauded Rose's approach in his race against Republican incumbent Dan Donovan.
"We must continue to show our positive economic vision and how we are better for people and not just say Trump is bad,” Blake told BuzzFeed. “We have an opportunity to show people how Democrats are helping them in their everyday lives, unlike the Republicans who will lie and take votes that would dramatically hurt people."
You can watch one of the Staten Island Democrat's campaign ads below:
