Donald Trump's Bold Return to Minnesota: Aiming to Turn the State Red with Vance by His Side

Key Points

Trump and Vance Rally: Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance aim to sway Minnesota from its Democrat-leaning history.
Focus on Blue-Collar Workers: Emphasis on winning over the Iron Range’s blue-collar and union workers.
Strategic Campaign Moves: Opening multiple campaign offices and appointing key local advisors.

Trump and Vance Rally in St. Cloud

Donald Trump is making a bold return to Minnesota, a state with a strong Democratic history, as he ramps up efforts to turn it red this election year. On Saturday night, Trump will hold a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, alongside his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. This move comes with the expectation of facing Vice President Kamala Harris in November, following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race.

Appeals to Blue-Collar and Union Workers

In May, Trump headlined a GOP fundraiser in St. Paul, confidently claiming he could win the state. He made direct appeals to the iron mining range in northeast Minnesota, targeting blue-collar and union workers who have traditionally been Democratic supporters. Trump’s campaign believes that Vance, with his Midwestern Rust Belt roots, can effectively connect with these voters and shift their support to the Republican side.

Strategic Importance of the Region

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, known for his appeal to Midwesterners and union workers, is among a dozen Democrats being considered as Harris’ running mate. This highlights the strategic importance of the region for both parties.

Trump’s Past and Present Performance in Minnesota

In 2016, Donald Trump narrowly lost Minnesota to Democrat Hillary Clinton by just 1.5 percentage points. However, in 2020, Biden expanded the Democratic margin, defeating Trump by more than 7 percentage points. Despite this, Trump remains optimistic about his chances in the state.

Building Campaign Infrastructure

Last month, Donald Trump’s political director, James Blair, identified Minnesota as a battleground state in a memo to the campaign and the Republican National Committee. Blair noted that Trump compared favorably to Biden and announced the campaign’s plans to hire staff and open eight offices across the state. The campaign did not confirm on Friday whether these offices are currently operational.

Local Leadership and Advisors

Earlier this month, Tayler Rahm, a Republican congressional candidate, withdrew from his primary race to serve as a senior adviser to Trump’s campaign in Minnesota. This move signals a strong commitment to building a robust campaign infrastructure in the state.

Campaign Statements and Reactions

Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for Trump’s campaign, emphasized the importance of Minnesota in the election. “The Biden/Harris Administration has been so disastrous, and Democrats are in such disarray, that not only is President Trump leading in every traditional battleground state, but longtime blue states such as Minnesota, Virginia, and New Jersey are in play,” Leavitt stated.

Democratic Response

In response, Lexi Byler, the Harris campaign’s communications director in Minnesota, asserted that Trump and Vance are out of touch with Minnesotan values. She confidently predicted that the state would not be won by a Republican presidential candidate this year. “Democrats are fired up and taking nothing for granted, with a powerful, well-organized, coordinated campaign and thousands of volunteers ready to elect Kamala Harris to continue fighting for them,” Byler said.

Conclusion

As the campaign heats up, both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are focusing on crucial swing states like Minnesota. Trump’s strategy centers on appealing to blue-collar workers and leveraging Vance’s Midwestern background. With significant campaign investments and a determined outreach plan, Donald Trump is making a strong push to turn Minnesota red in the upcoming election.