Donald Trump has won Michigan’s Republican primary, the latest in a series of solid primary victories that have put him on the verge of clinching the Republican presidential nomination.
The Associated Press called Trump’s campaign against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 9 p.m. ET.
Although the former president has repeatedly defeated Haley in primaries, she has continued to highlight Trump’s weaknesses and campaign for Republicans worried about Trump to create their own protest votes. . Haley has vowed to remain in the primary at least until next Tuesday, March 5, when 15 states will vote and Trump could all but clinch the Republican nomination.
But there are some red flags about Trump’s easy victory. His lead was weak in Oakland County. Oakland County is traditionally Republican, with a growing and diverse electorate that works in the technology industry, is college-educated, and has liberal leanings. While Trump lost support in Oakland County in 2020, it was no surprise that Haley’s support in the county increased slightly.
Speaking at a press conference in Grand Rapids ahead of the primary, Haley said that the Republican caucus, which continued to support her despite Trump’s lead in the primary, meant it would be difficult for Trump in November. insisted.
“If we don’t acknowledge that 40% of Republicans say they don’t want Donald Trump, we will win the general election,” Haley said, referring to the percentage of South Carolina Republican voters who voted for her. I can’t do that,” he said.
On Tuesday night, as the primary results trickled in, Haley criticized Trump, telling CNN she was continuing to campaign for the 15 primaries a week that begin today. “He can’t win the general election,” Haley said.
It’s unclear where Haley’s campaign goes from here. So far, she has weathered her losses with the support of Americans for Prosperity Action, the Koch Network’s powerful funding arm. However, AFP Action abandoned Haley’s campaign after she lost in her home state of South Carolina. In a letter obtained by Politico, Americans for Prosperity CEO Emily Seidel praised Haley as “an extraordinary leader with faith, determination and a spine of steel.” , wrote that the group would instead focus on the Senate and House races. 2024 Election Cycle.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Republican Party supports Trump. Only about 30% of Michigan’s Republican delegates have been decided in this primary, but due to the schedule change to comply with Republican National Committee rules, most of the delegates strongly support Trump. It will be assigned during the state’s Republican convention and caucus on Saturday.
The factional crisis rocking the state Republican Party has not dented Trump’s support among the leadership. “We have a nominee,” Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra, a former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during the Trump administration, told The Detroit News on Tuesday night after the results.
