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MICHIGAN July 12, 2023 ~ The Michigan Republican Party just gifted former President Donald Trump a slate of endorsements.
All six Republican U.S. representatives from Michigan officially endorsed Trump out of 14 candidates declared for the 2024 GOP presidential primary. This comes as the former president remains the favorite with Republican voters in the polls, despite being embroiled in legal battles.
The representatives who gave the endorsements are Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, John James, John Moolenaar, Lisa McClain, and Tim Walberg.
Walberg (MI-5) told 760 WJR’s Guy Gordon and Lloyd Jackson that he endorsed Trump due to his belief that he is the best candidate to perform the job on day one in office.
PODCAST:
July 12, 2023 ~ Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-5) talks to Guy Gordon and Lloyd Jackson about why he and the five other Michigan GOP congressmen endorsed former President Donald Trump.
(CONTINUED) Trump is currently facing over 70 federal indictments related to hoarding highly classified government documents and falsifying business records related to hush payments to Stormy Daniels, charges he pled “not guilty” to. He was also found liable in May by a New York jury for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, and is potentially facing charges in Georgia over his possible interference in the 2020 election.
When asked if he thinks Trump’s legal issues will hurt his chances of being elected president once again, Walberg said no legal challenges have yet to truly stick to the former president. He added that the indictments only emboldens support from GOP voters and himself towards the former president.
Despite his legal issues and some frustrations within the party after many of his endorsed candidates lost in the 2020 midterms, Trump is still the clear frontrunner in the GOP primary. Polls have him at an average of 49.4% as of July 12, trailed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is at 21.2%.
In the 2024 general election though, Democrat frontrunner President Joe Biden has been trading wins with Trump in recent polls from June and July. Trump also has an overall 56.3% disapproval rating among U.S. citizens.
The GOP has also seen significant losses under Trump in Michigan since his surprise win in 2016. In the 2022 midterms, all executive offices and legislative branches were taken by state Democrats for the first time in 40 years, with many of Trump’s Republican endorsements losing in the general elections.
When asked about Trump’s electability, Walberg said Trump will fair better without the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump’s record in office.
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