Trump projected as winner in Michigan: AP
(NEXSTAR) — The Associated Press projects Donald Trump as the winner in the battleground state of Michigan after having already projected the former president to win the race for the White House following his campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris.
The victory adds another 15 Electoral College votes to Trump’s tally, which surpassed the necessary 270 early Wednesday morning.
Michigan, along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, were three presidential battleground states that narrowly went for Trump in 2016 after roughly three decades of supporting the Democratic candidates.They flipped back to the Democrats when President Joe Biden won all three states in 2020, which included a win margin of about 154,000 votes in Michigan. All three have now been called for Trump in the 2024 election.
Prior to Trump’s victory in 2016, President Ronald Reagan was the last Republican candidate to take Michigan (he won the state both times).
Polling showed Harris and Trump were deadlocked in the “blue wall” state — which they both visited several times — leading up to the election.
Other key races on the state’s ballot that may have spurred turnout included the U.S. Senate seat that opened up after Democratic incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow decided to retire after five terms. The move turned what was once a safe seat for Democrats into a pick-up opportunity for Republicans. Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers were vying for the seat.
As of Wednesday morning, Slotkin held a thin lead over Rogers.
Republican Tom Barrett beat out Democrat Curtis Hertel, both former state senators, to replace Slotkin in the 7th Congressional District, the Associated Press reports.
In the 8th District, which includes Flint and Saginaw, Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet and Republican Paul Junge were running to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, who is not seeking a seventh term. McDonald Rivet, a state senator, edged out Junge, a former prosecutor and local news anchor who lost to Kildee in 2022.
Recounts are automatic in statewide races in Michigan if the margin between the top two candidates is 2,000 votes or fewer. Candidates may request and pay for a recount regardless of the vote margin, and the state covers the cost if the recount changes the outcome. State party chairs may request recounts for state legislative races if the margin is fewer than 500 votes in state Senate races and fewer than 200 votes in state House races.
The Associated Press may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome. A new recount law signed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in July will not take effect until after the 2024 presidential election.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.