During an online town hall event last week, Paula Collins, who is vying for the congressional held by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., suggested that Trump supporters might need to be sent to “re-education camps” to overcome the division caused by “this MAGA nightmare,” audio captured by the Post Millennial reveals. Collins, a tax attorney specializing in marijuana law, voiced that even a significant Democratic victory in November wouldn’t be enough to mend the division without some form of re-education for MAGA supporters.
New York Democrat Paula Collins suggests Trump supporters need a “reeducation camp” after the election.
Collins is running for Congress and made the comments in a town hall meeting. pic.twitter.com/6VGNmtlcY7
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) June 6, 2024
Collins, the uncontested Democratic candidate for New York’s 21st district, remarked, “Even with a sweeping blue win, the challenge of rebuilding after the MAGA era and introducing some form of re-education – though that term might need rephrasing for public discourse – will be substantial.” Her comments have drawn parallels to a 2016 statement by Hillary Clinton, who suggested that Trump backers might require “deprogramming.” On her campaign site, Collins expresses pride in the comparison to Clinton, considering it an honor.
Rep. Stefanik has called on Democratic leaders to denounce Collins’s statement. Through a press statement, Stefanik stated, “It is imperative that Joe Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, and Chuck Schumer publicly disavow these remarks immediately.”
My statement calling on Joe Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, and Chuck Schumer to immediately condemn NY Democrat congressional candidate's call to force Trump voters into re-education camps: pic.twitter.com/WPYEsg0Jrx
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) June 6, 2024
Instead of retracting her statement, Collins accused the media of misrepresentation and suggested Stefanik’s response was due to panic. Collins is leveraging the ensuing controversy to solicit campaign funds, asking for contributions of $250 on her website with a call to action against “MAGA mania” and listing “far-right politics” as a key concern of her campaign.
According to Ballotpedia, Stefanik’s district is considered “Solid Republican,” a rating supported by analyses from three political organizations. Federal Election Commission filings indicate Collins faces an uphill battle, with just over $6,000 in campaign funds and more than $11,000 in debt, while Stefanik has nearly $5 million at her disposal, further fueling speculation about Stefanik’s possible selection as Trump’s vice-presidential candidate.
