ST. CLOUD, Minnesota — Former President Donald Trump is re-engaging with Minnesota, a traditionally Democratic state, as he believes it could lean his way in the upcoming elections.
Trump is scheduled to hold a rally Saturday night in St. Cloud, accompanied by running mate JD Vance and possibly facing Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election instead of President Joe Biden.
Earlier this year, Trump highlighted his GOP campaign during a fundraiser in St. Paul, expressing confidence in his potential to win Minnesota. He specifically addressed the iron mining community in northeast Minnesota, hoping to attract blue-collar and union workers who have traditionally supported Democrats.
Vance, with his roots in a Midwestern Rust Belt city, is seen as a valuable asset in reaching these voters.
This focus on the Midwest is significant, as it aligns with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s appeal to similar demographics. Walz is among several Democrats being considered as a potential running mate for Harris.
In the 2016 election, Trump narrowly lost to Hillary Clinton by just 1.5 percentage points in Minnesota, but in 2020, Joe Biden widened that gap, defeating Trump by over 7 percentage points.
Despite this setback, Trump remains optimistic about the state’s prospects.
A memo circulated last month by Trump’s political director stated that Minnesota is a battleground where Trump is competitive against Biden. The campaign is reportedly hiring staff and launching multiple offices in the state to bolster their efforts.
The status of these eight offices has not been publicly clarified.
In a recent development, Republican congressional candidate Tayler Rahm has left his primary race to join Trump’s campaign as a senior adviser in Minnesota.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, stated, “The Biden/Harris Administration has faced substantial challenges, leading to a shift in voter sentiment. Trump is reportedly leading in traditional battleground states and even blue states like Minnesota, Virginia, and New Jersey.”
In response, Lexi Byler, a representative for the Harris campaign in Minnesota, asserted that Trump and Vance do not align with the values of Minnesotans. She emphasized that Democrats are energized and organized, ready to support Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
