MI 2024 Presidential Primary Preview: Democrat, Republican Candidates

MICHIGAN — Republican front-runner and former President Donald Trump is looking to gain even more traction in Michigan's Presidential Primary, possibly setting up a 2020 rematch with President Joe Biden.

Polls show both Trump and Biden with commanding leads in the primary, with Trump leading Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley by 60 percentage points.

Trump spoke to roughly 2,000 people in Oakland County last Saturday, attacking electric vehicles and warning union jobs across Michigan were being threatened by immigrant workers.

"The biggest threat to your union is millions of people coming across the border," Trump said at the rally, after mentioning the United Auto Workers and the Teamsters. "You’re not going to have your jobs anymore."

Nikki Haley, meanwhile, announced plans for two campaign stops in Michigan: one in Troy on Sunday, and then in Grand Rapids on Monday. Her campaign also announced a new leadership team in Michigan, including state Rep. Mark Tisdel and several former state lawmakers.

"Michiganders are looking for a leader who’s no-nonsense and focused on the issues that matter to their communities, not chaos and self-inflicted drama," Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, said in a statement. "Nikki Haley has the vision and the drive to take our nation forward and will set the tone at the top."

Biden, on the other hand, is struggling to gain traction in Michigan, amide widespread calls for a cease-fire in the Hamas-Israel conflict. A recent poll showed Biden trailing Trump in a head-to-head matchup in the state, 45 percent to 41 percent, with 14 percent undecided, according to a new Detroit Free Press poll.

Members of the Arab American and Muslim communities, including Dearborn-area Rep. Rashida Tlaib, are urging Michiganders to vote "uncommitted" on Michigan's Democratic President Primary Ballot.

"We feel completely neglected and just unseen by our government," Tlaib said in a video posted to social media.

Biden's sluggish polls numbers also come after a recent visit to Macomb County after the United Auto Workers union endorsed him in the primary. Speaking at the UAW union hall in Warren, Biden told roughly 100 UAW workers they're the biggest reason why the economy is growing.

"Wall Street didn’t build the middle class; labor built the middle class and the middle class built the country," Biden said. "When labor does well, everyone does well."

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) is the only Democrat challenging Biden for the nomination after fellow Michigander Marianne Williamson suspended her campaign. Although Phillips recently announced that he laid off a large number of his campaign staff, he vowed to stay in the race.

More than 765,000 Michigan voters have cast a ballot in the state's Presidential Primary with just a few days before Election Day, Feb. 27, according to the Michigan Department of State.

Of those, more than 18,000 voters turned out for the first three days of in-person early voting over the Presidents' Day holiday weekend and over 747,000 voters have submitted their absentee ballot to be counted in the primary, according to the Michigan Department of State.

Last year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill moving the state's primary election up from Super Tuesday to the last Tuesday in February.

Michigan has an open primary, meaning voters can only vote for one party in the election. However, Michigan doesn't require a voter to register with a party, meaning you can vote Republican in February's primary and then Democrat in August's primary.

Here's what Michigan voters need to know about voting in the 2024 presidential primary election:

Registering To Vote

You can check your registration status by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote. If you need to register, you can do so by registering online, by mail or in-person at your local clerk's office up to Election Day.

How To Cast A Ballot

There are many ways a voter can vote in Michigan. Voters can head to the polls in-person on Election Day, request and return an absentee ballot or vote early. Absentee ballots can be submitted in person at a local clerk's office, at a secure dropbox before Election Day or be returned through the mail. Voters have until up to 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day to request an absentee ballot.

Key Dates, Deadlines

• Sunday, Jan. 28 - Michigan communities can start allowing early voting. All Michigan communities must allow for at least nine days of early voting, but some can allow for up to 29 days. Check online at the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote or contact your local clerk's office for more information.
• Monday, Feb. 12 - Deadline to register to vote online or by mail and be eligible to vote in the 2024 Presidential Primary on Feb. 27.
• Tuesday, Feb. 13 - Anyone looking to vote in the 2024 Presidential Primary on Feb. 27 must register in person at a local clerk's office with proof of residency.
• Saturday, Feb. 17 - Communities must begin allowing early voting.
• Friday, Feb. 23 - Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or through the mail by 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 25 - Last day of early voting.
• Monday, Feb. 26 - Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person at a local clerk's office by 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 27 - Election Day, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.