Michigan Presidential Primary 2024: What you need to know

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 27, for Michigan’s presidential primary — a crucial battleground state that could decide the next President of the United States.

The primary will provide an early indicator on whether President Joe Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has been alienating Arab American voters, will hurt his re-election chances come November. Former President Donald Trump will look to secure another primary win over fellow Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

Michigan’s presidential primary happens earlier

Starting this presidential election, Michigan will hold its primary during the fourth week of February after the Democratic-controlled Michigan Legislature approved the change in January 2023. While state Republican voters will also be able to vote for their preferred candidate, the Michigan GOP will award the majority of their delegates on March 2 to comply with national party rules.

Independent candidates can collect voter signatures to qualify for the general election ballot in November. Third parties will select their nominees at their respective conventions later this year.

Find your polling location and a sample ballot at the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Biden’s standing with Arab American voters

President Biden is essentially running unopposed as he looks to secure the Democrats’ nomination for a second consecutive presidential election. While Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips remains in the race, he has yet to win a primary. Phillips announced he was laying off a portion of his campaign team earlier this month. Fellow Democratic nominee Marianne Williamson recently suspended her campaign.

There is a “vote uncommitted” campaign endorsed by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, urging Michigan voters to select “uncommitted” on the ballot instead of Biden in hopes of sending him a message about his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Many Arab American voters are upset that the Biden administration has provided military aid to Israel since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 — and has not called for a cease-fire in Gaza. Biden’s team sent officials to Michigan to meet with Arab American community members, but some declined their invitation.

Read: How the war in Gaza is swaying voters in Michigan

Dearborn is home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the nation. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud took part in the meeting with Biden officials.

“When foreign policy decisions directly impact the well-being of Dearborn residents, it is irresponsible to walk away from difficult policy conversations that can lead to saving the lives of innocent men, women and children,” Hammoud said in a statement released after the meeting. “As citizens of the United States of America and representatives of the city of Dearborn, we have done our duty; now it is incumbent upon the president to do the same.”

How the Michigan GOP turmoil could affect Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump will likely be the Republican presidential nominee in his bid for a second term. Trump has won every primary so far this year and only Nikki Haley remains as opposition. Haley has vowed to stay in the race until at least Super Tuesday on March 5, where 16 states and the territory of American Samoa will vote.

The Michigan Republican party will follow a hybrid model of utilizing both the primary and a caucus to decide the allocation of delegates. Sixteen delegates will be decided on Tuesday while the caucus on March 2 will determine the remaining 39 delegates — though in an unusual turn of events, there will be competing Michigan GOP caucuses on both sides of the state.

While Donald Trump is receiving overwhelming support from the Michigan GOP, infighting within the state’s party may cause a distraction as they prepare for November’s general election. Kristina Karamo was officially ousted from her position as party chair earlier this month as former Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra was recognized by the Republican National Committee as the state’s new GOP leader.

Read: Oakland County Chair Vance Patrick on why he supports Hoekstra over Karamo for Michigan GOP chair

Karamo, a Trump loyalist who was appointed Michigan GOP chair last year, has refused to step aside and still controls the party’s financial, social media and email marketing accounts. Michigan Republicans have taken her to court to force the transfer of power. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Rossi is expected to issue a ruling soon.

Since Karamo’s appointment, the Michigan Republican party has struggled to attract donors and is $700,000 in debt. A group of Republicans voted to remove Karamo as chair during a meeting on Jan. 6, a meeting she declared invalid.

Trump chimed in on the dispute during his visit to Waterford Township on Feb. 17 by shouting out Hoekstra, his former ambassador to the Netherlands.

“A great congressman, and a great ambassador,” Trump said during the same rally where he blasted the recent court decisions that could cost him nearly half-a-billion dollars.

Both Biden and Trump cannot afford to lose voters in Michigan. Biden won the state by 2.6% in 2020, while Trump unexpectedly carried Michigan in 2016 by just 0.23% over Hillary Clinton.

Stay updated on the latest election news by visiting WDET’s Voter Information Center.