Trump Aims to Recapture Battleground Success in Michigan

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Donald Trump made a highly anticipated appearance in Michigan with the hope of reclaiming the crucial territory that played a pivotal role in his path to the White House, only to slip away from his grasp in the subsequent election.

Despite facing a federal indictment for alleged mishandling of classified documents, Trump campaigned for a return to the presidency, emphasizing the need to win back the support he lost between 2016 and 2020 in suburban Detroit. Michigan holds significant importance for Trump as he contemplates running as the Republican nominee in 2024, but he faces the challenge of countering the Democrats’ recent gains in the state since his reelection defeat.

Speaking at the Oakland County GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner, Trump was honored by the party as their “Man of the Decade.” He underscored the significance of the upcoming 2024 presidential election, labeling it the “most important election we’ve ever had.” Throughout his speech, Trump criticized President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is viewed as his closest rival for the GOP nomination.

This campaign appearance marked Trump’s first in Michigan since 2016 when the state, along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, switched sides, propelling Trump to victory in the presidential race, only to be won by the Democrat Joe Biden four years later.

Trump’s popularity in Michigan has waned since his initial success.

“According to Trump’s calculations, winning Michigan again is essential for his presidential aspirations. However, his presence has caused significant disruptions,” said Dave Trott, a former GOP congressman. “Trump is largely responsible for the decline of the Michigan Republican Party.”

Last year, Trump endorsed candidates in Michigan who echoed his baseless claims of election rigging during the 2020 election. Matthew DePerno, Trump’s choice for attorney general, faced investigation for potential criminal charges related to attempting to access voting machines after the election. Another candidate, Kristina Karamo, handpicked by Trump to run for secretary of state, alleged witnessing election fraud as a poll challenger in Detroit during the election.

In November, the candidates endorsed by Trump suffered overwhelming defeats statewide, including Tudor Dixon, who lost to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by a margin of over 10 percentage points.

Michigan Republicans had complete control of the state government from 2011 to 2019 but now find themselves powerless for the first time in four decades. This shift has been particularly noticeable in Oakland County, which harbors the largest number of Republican voters in the state.

“Those familiar with Michigan electoral politics understand the significance of winning Oakland County if Republicans are to carry the state,” Trott explained.

Despite losing the county in both 2016 and 2020, Biden secured nearly 100,000 more votes there than Hillary Clinton did in 2016, ultimately winning the state by approximately 155,000 votes or 2.8 percentage points.

While Trott initially endorsed Trump in 2016, he later stated that Trump was “unfit for office.” Trump’s support among Republicans in the Legislature has dwindled, with 25 lawmakers already publicly endorsing DeSantis for president.

However, Trump continues to enjoy unwavering support from state GOP officials. In February, Republican precinct delegates elected Karamo to lead the party, despite her 14% loss in the midterms. One of the first actions taken by the new party leadership was a vote to change the traditional process of allocating all presidential delegates based on an open primary.

Under the new plan, expected to benefit Trump significantly, Michigan will award only 16 of its 55 delegates based on the results of the February 27 primary. The remaining 39 delegates will be allocated four days later in closed-door caucus meetings conducted by the same party members who selected Karamo as the party leader.

“The plan gives Trump a substantial advantage over the other candidates. He has been a favorite among grassroots supporters in the state, and Michigan has been his political playground for the past seven years,” explained Jason Cabel Roe, a former executive director of the Michigan GOP.

Karamo, in an interview with The Big Big News, claimed that she would remain impartial during the primary. She argued that the party was forced to implement the change after Michigan Democrats violated the Republican National Committee’s rules by moving the state’s primary from the second week of March to February 27, potentially resulting in a loss of delegates.

When asked about Trump’s involvement in the primary change, Karamo declined to comment, stating that she does not disclose conversations with different campaigns.

“Our focus is protecting the voice of Michigan voters. Whether the plan favors one candidate over another is irrelevant,” Karamo asserted.

Karamo stated that the Michigan GOP collaborated with the RNC on the plan and expects the national party to approve the new primary setup.

The RNC indicated that their discussions with the state party centered on rules and process rather than the substance and language of Karamo’s specific plan. They expressed their intention to review each state’s plans and paths forward for delegate selection.

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Follow Joey Cappelletti on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Cappelletti7

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• Michigan GOP Changes Presidential Primary Process
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