Donald Trump phones Michigan voters in 11th hour election appeal

President Donald Trump spoke briefly during a Michigan tele-townhall on Saturday, urging Republicans to turn out the vote
Trump also urged voters to back Republicans in toss-up US House districts that could decide help decide control of Congress
Trump, Vice President JD Vance appeared in Michigan in October, underscoring the state’s midterm importance

LANSING — President Donald Trump used a weekend telephone call to again urge Michiganders to vote on Nov. 3, calling the US Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed the “most important” in state history.

“Save Michigan from this embarrassment,” Trump said during a Saturday “tele-rally” that lasted around 12 minutes.

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His remarks came as part of an 11th hour telephone town hall effort focused on 19 states, including Texas, Alaska, Florida and New Mexico, according to the Republican National Committee.

Trump is not expected to campaign again in Michigan before Tuesday’s midterm election, but as he did in an Oct. 25 rally in Port Huron, urged voters here to “pretend” he is on the ballot.

“Michigan, you have to go out and vote,” Trump said after vouching for Rogers, gubernatorial nominee John James and Republican candidates for the US House. “If the people that voted for me vote, we have a landslide for Mike, John James, Bill Huizenga, Mike Bouchard and Tom Barrett.”

It’s not clear how many voters were on the line for the call. The president announced it on social media less than an hour before it began, telling his Michigan followers to “answer your phones.”

Trump urged Republican turnout in three US House races: the 4th, 7th and 10th Congressional districts. Each is currently held by Republicans but are considered toss-ups and have emerged as some of the most expensive US House races ever.

Trump’s appeal to Michigan voters came just days after an appearance from Vice President JD Vance, who stumped in Howell on Tuesday for many of these same candidates — and on many of the same issues.

Former President Barack Obama rallied with Democratic ticket last weekend in Detroit, stumping for El-Sayed, gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson and other candidates. Nov. 3, he said, is the “last best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness” of the Trump administration.

As of Nov. 1, just under 2.2 million Michiganders had already cast absentee ballots or voted early in person, or about 29% of all active registered voters, according to the state. Early voting ends Nov.1.