President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Oakland County, Michigan, on Monday, coinciding with the start of early in-person voting for the state's primary election.
The Aug. 4 primary will determine nominees for open Senate and governor's races, along with U.S. House seats and other statewide offices. Trump carried Michigan in both 2016 and 2024, making the state a critical battleground for the upcoming midterm elections.
In the Senate primary, Republican Mike Rogers is running unopposed. The Republican race for governor has seen U.S. Rep. John James, who has received Trump's endorsement, facing challenges from businessman Perry Johnson. Johnson has reportedly invested significantly in advertising against James, and his campaign has advertised a "Trump Tailgate" event for Monday.
Democrats are contesting a competitive race for the Senate nomination between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The winner will face Rogers, who narrowly lost to incumbent Sen. Elissa Slotkin in the previous election.
Trump's visit occurs as Republicans express concerns about the potential impact of rising gas prices and the ongoing conflict in Iran on their midterm prospects. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate.
Oakland County, the site of Trump's rally, has historically served as a political bellwether. While Democrats have increased their margins in the county over time, Trump won Michigan in 2016 and 2024.
Recent special elections have indicated potential challenges for Republicans in the state. In May, a Democrat secured a special election victory by nearly 20 points in a state Senate district that was won by less than one point by Kamala Harris in 2024. The previous officeholder in that district, also a Democrat, won by 6 percentage points in 2022.
The governor's race is also notable, as current Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited.