The top of the Republican ticket is planning two Detroit visits this week, highlighting the importance of a city where Democrats have long dominated.
Vice presidential nominee JD Vance will make an appearance at Eastern Market on Tuesday to discuss the economy, the campaign announced. And as previously reported, presidential nominee Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the Detroit Economic Club on Thursday.
Trump and Vance have been working to court voters in Michigan’s largest city, hoping to peel off some support from Democrat Kamala Harris in a state that Trump won by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2016.
Trump earned just 3% of the vote in Detroit against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in 2016, but for years later he did slightly better in the city, winning about 5% of the vote compared to Joe Biden’s 94% — a roughly 228,000 vote advantage. Biden won the state by about 154,000 votes.
The economic club, though, hardly represents the electorate of Michigan’s largest city. There is a fee for membership, and the club is targeted at business people looking to network with colleagues and policymakers.
Trump also spoke at the Detroit Economic Club during his first presidential run, rolling out his economic proposals in August 2016. He promised to abandon or renegotiate major trade agreements — which he did as president — and to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which he failed to do.
Now-U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, was ejected from that event as one of a series of protesters who disrupted Trump’s remarks.
The former president has already visited Detroit 11 times this year. Vance said last week during remarks in Auburn Hills that Michiganders should expect to see him or Trump “probably every week” until Election Day.
Vice President Kamala Harris was in Flint Friday to push back against Trump’s claims on the economy and electric vehicles.
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