DETROIT (WWJ) -- Former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump are both planning high-profile campaign stops in battleground Michigan ahead of November's midterm elections, as the state prepares to elect a new governor and U.S. senator.
Obama to rally Michigan Democrats in Detroit
Former President Barack Obama will travel to Detroit on Saturday, October 24, to anchor a campaign event alongside key Michigan Democrats. The event aims to mobilize voters and encourage early voting across the Democratic ticket.
Joining Obama in Detroit will be:
- Jocelyn Benson, Democratic nominee for Governor
- Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
- Democratic candidates running for state and local offices up and down the ballot
The exact venue for the even was not immediately announced.
Members of the public interested in attending the October 24 rally can register through the Michigan Democrats' event sign-up page HERE.
As a uniquely popular national figure, political analysts say Obama’s presence in Michigan could be key to galvanizing turnout among Black voters, young voters, and the progressive base — critical demographics needed to secure high-turnout margins in key battleground races.
Trump shares plan for Michigan visit
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump also announced plans to visit Michigan — sometime within the next two weeks.
"I'm going to Michigan in about a week and a half," Trump said as he departed D.C. for Nebraska to support Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. "We're sort of scheduled to be some place almost every night."
Trump’s upcoming itinerary follows recent rally stops in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Ohio, with a scheduled visit to San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, October 7.
While Trump hinted at his return to the state, his campaign team had previously explored visits to Michigan between October 6 and October 8 before those plans were called off for undisclosed reasons, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Specific dates, locations, and featured candidates for Trump's upcoming Michigan visit have not yet been announced.
Trump's visit presents a high-stakes trade-off: while his appearance can rally core working-class conservatives and drive high base turnout, his underwater approval ratings risk alienating swing-voters and energizing Democratic opposition across Michigan.
