Let me tell you how it is in New York. In NYC, we often have a contest between two Democrats, one of whom is much farther left than the other. When the general comes around, sure, there’s a Republican, usually one who doesn’t have a chance of winning.
In the rest of the state, we sometimes have had a Democrat who is farther to the right than the Republican. Not sure Upstate matters that much as far as Trump is concerned, but the statewide offices matter.
Our City Council races in NYC are important, since they vote on laws and regulations. Not just the mayor. How they stand on agencies like the Landmark Commission and many other things, like zoning, affect real estate interests.
The Democrats did this in increments. First they increased the size of the City Council enormously, supposedly to have more minority representation. Then they keep voting for increases in the matching funds, which apply to everyone but since there are almost exclusively Democrats running, the party gathers more and more taxpayer money.
They could write the textbook on how to establish one-party rule.
Of course all the handouts help their cause, and NYC has many needy among the better-off. The unions have had a stranglehold as well—mostly Democrat.
So please don’t condemn Trump for having to survive here and make his businesses work.
Plus, maybe most important, money rules, probably more than in most other places.
When is the last time you voted for a Republican politician who for 21 years, spent as much money to advance the election of Democrats (more, actually) as Republicans? Who is the last Democrat politician who for 21 years donated as much to Republicans as to Democrats?
Finny has given you an excellent answer to this.