Former President Donald Trump is making a return to Minnesota, a state that has historically leaned towards Democratic candidates but that he believes could be within his grasp this election year. Trump is scheduled to host a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Saturday evening, accompanied by his running mate JD Vance, with the anticipation of facing Vice President Kamala Harris in November rather than President Joe Biden.
In a previous event held in May, Trump expressed confidence in his ability to secure a win in the state. He specifically targeted the iron mining region in northeast Minnesota, aiming to sway blue-collar and union workers towards the Republican Party after many years of staunch Democratic support in the area. Trump’s campaign sees Vance, an Ohio senator with Midwestern Rust Belt roots, as instrumental in reaching out to this demographic.
The appeal to Midwesterners and union workers has also positioned Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as a potential running mate for Harris, among a list of Democrats being considered for the role. While Trump narrowly missed defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in Minnesota in 2016 by 1.5 percentage points, Biden secured a more significant victory in the state in the 2020 election, winning by over 7 percentage points.
Despite these Democratic victories, Trump remains optimistic about his chances in Minnesota. A memo from Trump’s political director highlighted the state as a battleground where Trump is viewed favorably compared to Biden. The campaign is said to be expanding its presence in Minnesota by hiring staff and possibly opening eight offices, although there was no confirmation on the status of these offices as of Friday.
Furthermore, recent developments have pointed to growing Republican activity in the state. Congressional candidate Tayler Rahm withdrew from his primary race to join Trump’s campaign in Minnesota as a senior adviser. The confidence within Trump’s campaign is further echoed by statements from Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary, who mentioned that states like Minnesota, Virginia, and New Jersey, typically strongholds for Democrats, are now in play for Republicans.
On the opposing side, Lexi Byler, communications director for the Harris campaign in Minnesota, stressed that Trump and Vance are not aligned with the values of Minnesotans. Byler emphasized the Democratic Party’s commitment to a robust and coordinated campaign, with a plethora of volunteers prepared to support Kamala Harris and uphold the values they believe in.
