Summary:
- Democrats control Michigan state House and Senate after last year's midterms.
- Michigan GOP faces challenges with donor base and internal divisions.
- National strategists see potential for GOP wins through super PACs and independent efforts.
- Former Michigan GOP director Jeff Timmer criticizes party's state of affairs.
- Timmer believes Trump could win in 2024 with the support of third-party efforts.
- Latest poll numbers show a close race in the presidential election.
New tonight, we're taking a deeper look into the state of party politics in Michigan. On one side you have the Democrats fresh off sweeping victories in last year's midterms, granting them control of the state House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. But the House majority could hinge on the outcome of upcoming local races as two state representatives run for local office. On the other side, the state of Michigan's GOP is getting national attention this week. Singled out as one of the states where the state party is a shadow of what it once was cash strapped. It's seen its donor base flee. Mar Mcdonald is live downtown tonight. Mara, that doesn't mean Republicans can't still win here though. Let's make that clear. Kimberly, that's right, and that's exactly what national strategists are saying out of DC. So how do you figure you ask? Well, they say it's simple. It's a workaround. Let me show you. Described in Politico this week that as a train wreck, Michigan's GOP has been consumed by hyper Trump loyalists who have alienated establishment Republicans and donors. There's no reason that real people with real money would invest in these clowns that are running the circus that is the GOP in Michigan. And the party is living in a van down by the river effectively. Jeff Timmer is the former executive director of the Michigan GOP and vocal Trump critic. And he's a businessman and Politico that Michigan's GOP State Party is a mess. So why do national strategists see possible GOP wins here both for federal and state office? The answer they say is simple. You work around it with super PACs that can bypass the entire state party apparatus and fight digitally and on the airwaves or closer to home. Do what former Governor Rick Snyder and William Parfitar fundraising in an effort to take back the state house. He's a mega and he's advising Republicans trying to win back seats to stay above the fray. I told people we should just stay out of everything else. Stay out of the presidential election because that's very divisive. Stay out of all the party operational stuff and organizational stuff. It's a simple task. Despite the state party's woes, Timmer believes Trump can win in 2024 especially if a third party group like no labels fields a ticket. The prospect of Donald Trump being re-elected to the White House beating Joe Biden is real. He has zero chance of winning a majority of votes nationally but he has a very real chance of winning the electoral college. Back here live interesting to note that the latest poll numbers in the presidential race come from the New York Times and Sienna, it has the race at a dead heat. We're live downtown tonight. I'm Mara McDonald, Local 4. I'm Mara. Thank you.
We're live downtown tonight. I'm Mara McDonald, Local 4. I'm Mara. Thank you.