The 2020 election cycle is heating up as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden square off for the working-class votes in Michigan. The importance of Michigan’s 16 electoral votes is paramount to the outcome of the election and both candidates are working hard to win the state in November.
Trump won Michigan in 2016, and has worked hard to reach out to the state’s working-class population this cycle. The President made two recent visits to the state, including a visit on Thursday to a Ford plant in Ypsilanti. During his visit, Trump highlighted the successes his administration has had in terms of the economy and job creation. He also addressed the tariffs he’s imposed on foreign imports, and how it’s been beneficial for Michigan’s manufacturing and auto sector.
The White House has courted working-class voters by creating job retraining programs and providing financial incentives for employers to bring jobs back to the United States. Trump’s efforts have been largely successful in terms of job creation, with unemployment rates in Michigan dropping to under 6%.
Joe Biden’s focus in Michigan has largely centered around health care and wages. The former Vice President discussed his proposed public health care option and his support of a $15 minimum wage during a recent visit to the state. Biden also reiterated his plans to invest heavily in infrastructure and education.
The two candidates are divided on a number of issues, but the focus of the race has remained largely on the economy and jobs. Trump holds a slight lead in the polls thus far, however this could drastically change depending on how Michigan’s working-class voters swing on election day. Trump and Biden both recognize the importance of this key demographic, and the two candidates will continue to fight to earn the votes of Michigan’s working-class citizens in the coming weeks.
