New York Republicans (slowly) move to endorse Trump

New York’s congressional Republicans are finally jumping off the 2024 presidential fence.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) and Rep Nick LaLota (R-Long Island) both told The Post they endorse former President Trump.

“As a Navy Veteran and member of both the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, I understand America needs a Commander-in-Chief who will keep us safe,” LaLota said. “President Trump’s policies made our nation stronger and had us on track to prosperity. As our 47th president, he will clean up the mess President Biden created.”

A Malliotakis spokeswoman added that “Nicole supports President Trump and will make a formal endorsement at the appropriate time.”

Four other members of the nine-member Republican delegation have not endorsed any candidate in the 2024 presidential primary — despite former President Trump’s commanding Iowa caucus blowout, and with the New Hampshire primary looming Tuesday.

Reps. Mike Lawler (R-Rockland), Brandon Williams (R-Syracuse), Anthony D’Esposito (R-Long Island), and Andrew Garbarino (R-Long Island); along with Nassau County legislator Mazi Pilip, who is running in the special election to replace disgraced Rep. George Santos, have yet to endorse.

In 2022 Lawler publicly expressed his wish for an alternative to Trump — and floated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the right person.

“Long Island has become more red, but It’s not Trump country. I would think they might be a little skittish,” said one plugged-in Republican operative. “Maybe they’re hoping [Trump] gets convicted and kicked off the ballot.”

New York congressional members who are backing Trump include Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-Chautauqua) and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-Finger Lakes).

Another upstater, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), is so close to the former president she is widely viewed as a potential running mate.

During the 2020 presidential race, Long Island voters were divided, with Nassau voting for Biden, while Trump took Suffolk.

The 2024 landscape does not bode well for Republicans after New York’s highest court gave Democrats another chance to redraw the state’s House districts — something they will almost certainly do in a way that targets vulnerable Republicans.

All four Trump holdouts are in seats Democrats plan to contest in the 2024 elections.

“I am happy about it,” New York State Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs said of the forthcoming new districts and confirmed that the party would vigorously contest all the GOP fence-sitters. “They’re significant targets because they are in districts that tend to lean moderate,” he noted.

Pro-Trump insiders warned, however, that continued fence-sitting comes with risks.

“I know these are tight races, but there is a risk that the Trump base will stay home. If even one or two percent of the Trump base sees this and stays home you’re screwed as well,” said GOP consultant Caroline Wren. “At this point, members who have not endorsed Donald Trump are much more concerned about what the donor class thinks of them, than their actual constituents. And that is a cross they will have to bear”

A raft of retirements, leadership crises, and the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos has left the party with what could be a one-seat majority for 2024.

Empire State Democrats would not even pick off all of them in order to take back the House and enthrone Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker.