Michigan: A key swing state where Trump is chipping away at Harris’ lead

US Presidential Election 2024: Michigan will be a key swing state for Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. (Photo: AP)

Michigan is an upper-midwestern state in the United States in the Great Lakes region. It is the 10th-largest state by population and 11th-largest by population.

The state draws its name from the Lake Michigan, the second-largest lake in the United States which is located inside the state.

Michigan was originally inhabited by the native tribes before the French settled there in the 17th Century. Following the French defeat in the French-Indian War in 1762, the state came under the British rule, who later ceded it to the United States after defeat in the American Revolutionary War which won the nation its independence from the British. Initially a part of other states, Michigan was made into a separate state in 1837.

Who are the voters?

Michigan has a total of 8,419,373 registered voter, according to the state’s Voter Information Center.

Michigan sends 15 delegates to the Electoral College. In the 538-member Electoral College, you need 270 to win.

As per the Pew Research Center, Michigan is a Democrat-leaning state in terms of adults’ party affiliation: 47 per cent identify as Democrats, 34 per cent as Republicans, and 19 per cent do not describe an affiliation.

As per the 2020 Census, Michigan’s demographics are as follows:

White                                                                 : 61.6%
Black                                                                  : 12.4%
Hispanic                                                            : 18.7%
Asian                                                                  : 6%;
American Indian and Alaska Native              : 1.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.2%
Some Other Race alone                                  : 8.4%
Two or More Races                                          : 10.2%

How has Michigan voted in past?

Michigan voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election while it voted for Donald Trump in 2016.

During 1992-2016 presidential elections, Michigan voted Democrat. It voted Republican in elections between 1976-88.

Michigan is a key swing state

Michigan is a key swing state and winning it will be critical for either of the nominees.

Harris and Trump are practically tied in Michigan, as per the latest poll by The New York Times and Sienna College.

While Harris had an advantage early in the race, Trump has consistently chipped away the lead. With just weeks to the voting day, this is a worrying trend for Harris.