GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On Friday, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will be aiming to attract voters in Michigan as they seek to solidify their bases in this essential electoral battleground.

Harris, the Vice President representing the Democratic Party, is set to commence her campaign in Grand Rapids. She will follow this with engagements in Lansing and Oakland County, located to the northwest of Detroit.

Meanwhile, Trump, the former Republican president, has organized a separate event in Oakland County during the afternoon, later concluding his day with a rally in Detroit.

Michigan stands as one of the crucial “blue wall” states, alongside Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that are pivotal for the upcoming election.

The forthcoming rally in Detroit marks Trump’s first return since he made derogatory comments about the city just a week prior. He cautioned audiences about the implications of a Harris presidency, suggesting that “our whole country will end up being like Detroit.” The city has experienced significant struggles in the past, including drastic population and business losses, as well as severe financial difficulties, though it has shown signs of recovery in recent years.

Harris’s campaign in Michigan faces hurdles, particularly concerning union support. While unions have typically aligned with the Democratic Party, she has not secured some vital endorsements. Additionally, many Arab American voters hold reservations about her due to the administration’s unwavering backing of Israel amidst ongoing military actions in Gaza.

In an interview on Thursday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a co-chair on Harris’s campaign, emphasized the expectation that the upcoming election would be closely contested. “People are saying, ‘Oh, it’s so close.’ I’m like, have you not been listening for decades?” Whitmer remarked. “Michigan is a divided state, and that’s why we don’t dismiss the reddest areas on a political map. We show up.”

The campaign kickoff for Harris in Kent County—a region that has historically leaned Republican—reveals its shifting political landscape. Trump had won Kent by a margin of 3% in 2016, but by 2020, President Biden claimed the county’s vote, indicating a trend toward more Democratic support in recent elections.