Staff Reports
In a surprising twist, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) has dropped a truth bomb on her fellow Democrats. She boldly proclaims that former President Donald Trump has a fighting chance at reclaiming the swing state of Michigan, just as he did in his remarkable victory back in 2016. Speaking on CNN, Dingell put it plain and simple: “Michigan is not a blue state. It is purple.”
Dingell understands that Michigan is a highly competitive state, and Trump knows how to work it to his advantage. Despite the election being a year away and the volatile political climate, Dingell is not taking Michigan for granted. She takes pride in her strong stance, making sure to let her colleagues know that this is not a time to be complacent.
This insight begs the question of whether President Biden’s team is taking Michigan for granted. Dingell believes they have finally gotten the message that Michigan is up for grabs. It’s clear that Dingell is sounding the alarm to her fellow Democrats, urging them to take the state seriously and not overlook its importance in future elections.
It’s a fact that Trump’s victory in Michigan in 2016 gave him a critical boost, earning him 11 delegates from the Electoral College. This win played a significant role in his ultimate election triumph against Hillary Clinton. However, he lost the state to President Biden in 2020, proving just how volatile Michigan can be. Michigan has a history of electing Republican governors like Rick Snyder while also sending liberal senators like Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) back to Congress repeatedly.
So, what led to Trump’s victory in 2016? Well, a postmortem of the Clinton campaign revealed a sense of arrogance among her senior leadership. They ignorantly believed projections that showed Clinton winning Michigan by five points. However, the reality was quite different. Supporters on the ground described a detached and disorganized strategy, leaving Clinton vulnerable to criticisms of aloofness. This, coupled with ongoing controversies like the State Department email scandal and a weak economic message, ultimately cost Clinton the state. Trump managed to win Michigan with 30,000 fewer votes than former President George W. Bush received when he lost the state in 2004.
"Everybody says Michigan's a blue state. Michigan is not. It is purple. It is a very competitive state. And Donald Trump would do well in Michigan right now."
— Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), while also acknowledging the election is more than a year away pic.twitter.com/EDH0NQlfgp
— The Recount (@therecount) September 12, 2023
Recent polls only solidify Dingell’s claims. They show Trump leading the GOP field by wide margins and enjoying high levels of support in other swing states like Ohio. Surveys even predict that in a head-to-head matchup against President Biden, Trump could win by up to seven points. Even mainstream media analysts, who are known for their bias against Trump, are acknowledging that the race is essentially tied. The multiple criminal indictments against Trump’s associates have done little to sway the opinion of his loyal supporters.
This all goes to show that Dingell may be right. Democrats cannot afford to ignore Michigan, and they certainly cannot dismiss Trump’s potential influence in the state. They must work tirelessly to win over Michiganders and offer a compelling alternative to Trump’s policies. Otherwise, they may find themselves once again stunned by the purple power of Michigan.
