In Parts of Queens, Trump Gains More Support in 2020

While spontaneous celebrations broke out in parts of Queens Saturday afternoon after Joe Biden was projected to become the next President of the United States, in a residential section of Forest Hills, it was quiet. You won’t find Trump flags flying outside of the stately homes, but the majority of this election district voted for Donald Trump.

“His honesty with the people. He talk the way I understand and people understand the way he talks. He’s not a politician. He said that many, many, many times. He’s not a politician, he’s a businessman,” said Benjamin Rokhsar, a Forest Hills resident.

While Queens is Donald Trump’s home borough, about 73% of the borough voted in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

But in a pocket of Forest Hills, the 86th Election District, which is within the 27th Assembly District, more than 65% of the election district voted in favor of Trump.

Four years ago, the same district overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton — with almost 70% of the vote.

People we spoke to say they’re not surprised to see parts of the map flip from blue to red.

“I think Trump energized the base more this time around and they saw what he did as a president before. They didn’t know what he was going to be. So I think the turnout was significantly higher because of that,” said Daniel Shimonov.

Residents described the neighborhood as primarily Jewish and conservative. They said Trump’s policies with Israel have made him popular with local voters.

“To be honest with you, quite frankly, I’m not surprised. Primarily due to the fact it’s a predominantly Jewish neighborhood. And considering what Trump has been able to do in office, for the past four years, with all the support he’s got from the neighborhood, I think it sort of amassed and forced people to go out and vote,” said Eli Yusupov.

But not everyone in the area is a Trump supporter. While this man is less than enthused about Biden, he said it’s time for change.

“He’s not the best that we have in the over 300 million, but certainly no one like Donald Trump." 

As the city’s absentee ballots are tallied, it is likely the support for Biden will increase across the borough.

However, residents in this neighborhood believe the area will stay red for this election.

-- Clodagh McGowan

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Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article misstated which area of Forest Hills voted for President Trump last week. It’s the 86th Election District, which is within the 27th Assembly District, not the entire neighborhood.

In his first address to the nation as the 46th Presidential Elect of the United States, Joe Biden ended his speech with a hymn from the Bible.

“And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

"And now, together — on eagle’s wings — we embark on the work that God and history have called upon us to do.”

As the nation’s second Catholic president, the first being John F. Kennedy, Biden’s faith shined through his words.

Earlier in the speech, Biden quoted a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes.

“The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season — a time to build, a time to reap, a time to sow. And a time to heal. It’s time to heal America.”

Those themes of unity and healing resonated with worshipers we spoke to during Sunday’s religious services.

At the Church of St. Charles Borromeo, there were prayers offered for the new elected leaders.

“I know that God is going to keep us and make a way for us to get through this. We know that President Elect Biden is a religious person and we know that he is going to lead us in the right direction for change,” explained Letisha Noel, a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo.

“I have just felt, you know, glorious, joyous and having hope again in our nation and our city. So just praising God for the last 24 hours,” added Kecia Manuel, another parishioner.

Like many of the faithful, Biden spent his Sunday morning in church.

Catholics we spoke with say after hearing Biden’s speech last night said they are confident the new leader can mend the division felt throughout the country.

“The homily today was specific about Matthew’s Gospel about making sure that we are ready and I think we are all ready for a little something different,” said church deacon Rodney Beckford.

Worshipers said there will be many Sunday services ahead praying for the healing of the country.

“That is all we can do, put it in God’s hands,” said parishioner Shelda Washington

-- Alyssa Paolicelli

Sunday was a beautiful day in the city’s reddest borough. At Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, residents reacted to the news that Joe Biden is poised to become the next President of the United States.

There are more Trump supporters here than any place else in the city.

“A little bit sad because I think they’re not really celebrating that we have a new president elect, more that they’re celebrating that Trump is not back in, so it’s a little upsetting,” one local told NY1.

There are more registered Democrats than Republicans here, but that didn’t stop Trump from handily beating Biden on Staten Island. Trump took a whopping 62% of the vote so far, surpassing the 57% he claimed over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Trump’s share is likely to decrease as absentee ballots start to be counted and more Democrats who casted their vote that way have their voices heard. Still, his supporters say they’re salty about the results.

“I’m not OK with the results,” one local said. “There’s obviously been a lot of voter fraud; a lot of suspicion and we got to let the process play out.”

“They cheated and we all know they cheated,” added another. “It’s evident. I mean everything I see and everywhere I look, everybody was in Trump. Trump’s rallies alone spoke big mountain of words.”

Although Trump and his campaign continue to claim large-scale voter fraud took place in key battleground states that went for Biden, they have yet to bring forward any credible proof to support the accusations.

As celebrations erupted throughout the city and across the nation, there was little audible reaction here. No one spilled into the streets in the kinds of impromptu gatherings seen in Times Square or Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.

Some residents, more amenable to a Biden presidency, told NY1 that people are still adjusting to the news.

“Hopefully they’ll come around, those who didn’t vote for him, and see that, yes, he’s the man for us. I feel confident that he is,” one Staten Islander said.

“I think that it’s over, that he will go into the White House and be our president. Yes I do, and I am ok with that,” added another.

There are many, including Staten Island Congresswoman Elect Nicole Malliotakis, who are urging the Trump campaign to explore all legal options to make sure every vote is counted.

Others who support the president say it’s time to concede, and begin moving on.

-- Amanda Farinacci