Donald Trump Narrowly Leads Harris in Michigan

Former President Donald Trump narrowly leads Vice President Kamala Harris in the latest Michigan poll, a pivotal swing state.

At a Glance

• Former President Trump holds a narrow lead over Vice President Harris in Michigan, with 44.7% support compared to Harris’s 43.5%, making it a “statistical toss-up.”
• Less than 5% of voters support independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is trying to remove his name from the ballot in swing states like Michigan.
• Among definite voters, Harris leads with 45.7% support, while Trump has 44.1%.
• Trump’s favorability rating has remained stable since July, while Harris’s favorability has increased.
• Michigan’s secretary of state denied Kennedy’s request to remove his name from the ballot.

Michigan Poll Shows Tight Trump-Harris Race

According to a recent survey conducted by WDIV/Detroit News, former President Donald Trump narrowly leads Vice President Kamala Harris among Michigan voters. The poll, conducted from August 26 to August 29, revealed that Trump garnered 44.7 percent of the support from likely voters, while Harris obtained 43.5 percent. This slim margin has left the race in Michigan as a statistical toss-up.

This survey was commissioned by WDIV Local 4 News and the Detroit News.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 4.7 percent of voter support in the survey, despite his efforts to remove his name from the ballot in key swing states like Michigan. The state’s secretary of state has refused his request to withdraw. Other third-party candidates secured 2.3 percent of the vote, while 4.8 percent of respondents remained undecided as the election nears.

Voter Preferences and Favorability Ratings

Among definite voters, Harris leads slightly with 45.7 percent support compared to Trump’s 44.1 percent. Trump’s favorability has remained stable through the summer months, while Harris has seen an increase in her favorability ratings. As of now, 42 percent of Michigan voters view Trump favorably, in contrast to 51 percent who view him unfavorably.

Vice President Kamala Harris erased most of Donald Trump’s lead among likely voters in Michigan in a new poll, the latest evidence that the Democratic nominee is closing the gap in the presidential race.

In comparison, Harris has a 43 percent favorable rating and a 49.7 percent unfavorable rating. These figures represent an improvement from July, suggesting that her candidacy is gaining traction among Michigan voters. The poll highlighted that 19.5 percent of voters consider jobs and the economy the most pressing issue, followed by abortion and women’s rights (12.5 percent), and inflation and the cost of living (12 percent).

Implications for the 2024 Election

According to the survey, Michigan voters trust Trump more on issues like the economy, foreign affairs, and the southern border. Conversely, they believe Harris would be a better steward for strengthening American democracy and see her as more trustworthy.

This close contest underscores the critical role Michigan plays as a battleground state. Harris was nominated by the Democratic Party on August 5, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal in July. Despite the tight margins in Michigan, Harris has closed the gap or taken the lead in other key swing states like Georgia and Arizona, signaling a highly competitive election ahead.With less than two months remaining before the election, campaigns on both sides are intensifying their efforts to win over swing state voters. Despite uncertainties, polling errors from previous elections, like 2016 and 2020, have indicated the significance of even small margins in determining the outcome of key states. The current polling landscape points to a tightly contested race that could hinge on the narrowest of leads.