Speaker Mike Johnson to campaign in crucial House races in New York

House Speaker Mike Johnson will trek to New York to appear at a pair of events for vulnerable Republican incumbents Friday, four days before the election.

Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, is slated to appear at two events on the same day for freshman Reps. Brandon Williams and Marc Molinaro, who are fighting to keep their seats in districts that President Biden won in 2020.

The last-minute trip where Mr. Johnson will be campaigning alongside former Rep. Lee Zeldin underscores the importance of the Empire State in the GOP’s quest to maintain power in the House.

House Republicans were able to clinch a tight majority in 2022 because Mr. Molinaro and Mr. Williams, along with Reps. Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito and George Santos, who later resigned in disgrace, were able to flip seats in the deep blue New York.

The speaker has remained bullish that he will keep and grow his current three-seat majority and spoke of how important New York was when he took the stage at former President Donald Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden.

“We’re about to grow that majority and New York is going to make that happen,” Mr. Johnson said. “You’re going to elect our incumbents here and our challengers.”

Holding onto those key seats will be difficult. 

Mr. Williams is in an uphill battle in New York’s 22nd Congressional District against Democratic state Sen. John Mannion. Redistricting hurt Mr. Williams’ bid for a second term. The new map put Mr. Williamns in an Upstate district that includes Syracuse where Mr. Biden won by 11 points in 2020.

In New York’s 19th Congressional District, which stretches from Ithaca to the Catskill Mountains, Mr. Molinaro is locked in a nasty rematch against Democrat Josh Riley, who lost by less than 4,500 votes in 2022.

Mr. Biden won Mr. Molinaro’s district by nearly 5 points, meaning the presidential contest between Mr. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will likely make a difference in both races.