Trump urges Michigan voters to answer phones for final Senate appeal
The president spent twelve minutes urging Republicans to vote in toss-up House races and a key Senate contest days before the midterm election.
By Luka Evans ·
President Donald Trump made a last-minute appeal to Michigan voters on Saturday, urging them to turn out for the November 3 midterm elections. He participated in a tele-townhall event that lasted approximately twelve minutes. During the call, he described the race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed as the most important in state history.
“Save Michigan from this embarrassment,” Trump told those on the line. He asked voters to treat the election as if he were running for office, a tactic he also used during a rally in Port Huron on October 25. The president stated that high turnout among his supporters would lead to a landslide victory for Rogers, gubernatorial nominee John James, and several other Republican candidates.
The call was part of an 11th hour effort by the Republican National Committee targeting nineteen states. Other states included in this specific telephone campaign were Texas, Alaska, Florida, and New Mexico. Trump announced the event on social media less than an hour before it started. He instructed his Michigan followers to answer their phones, though the exact number of participants remained unclear.
In addition to the Senate race, Trump focused on three U.S. House districts: the 4th, 7th, and 10th. All three seats are currently held by Republicans but are considered toss-ups. These contests have become some of the most expensive U.S. House races in recent history. Trump specifically named Bill Huizenga, Mike Bouchard, and Tom Barrett while vouching for the Republican slate.
This phone call followed a campaign trip by Vice President JD Vance to Howell on Tuesday. Vance campaigned for many of the same candidates and addressed similar issues. On the Democratic side, former President Barack Obama held a rally in Detroit with the ticket last weekend. He supported El-Sayed, gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson, and other Democrats, calling the upcoming election the last best chance to rein in the administration.
Michigan remains a critical battleground for determining control of Congress. As of November 1, just under 2.2 million Michiganders had cast absentee ballots or voted early in person. That figure represents about 29% of all active registered voters in the state. Early voting concluded on November 1, setting the stage for Election Day.
