President Donald Trump waded into key races in Michigan ahead of the Tuesday, Aug. 4 primary, claiming some big wins and one big flop.
While Democrats gear up for a midterm election they cast as a referendum on Trump's presidency, Republicans running in battleground Michigan have embraced Trump and his agenda and characterized the Democratic ticket as radical.
While Trump lost his 2020 reelection bid, he won the state in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections.
Here's a look at how the president's picks fared:
Michigan's race for governor
Trump-backed U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, defeated businessman Perry Johnson in Michigan's GOP gubernatorial primary. Trump endorsed James just before absentee ballots began hitting voters' mailboxes.
While Johnson fought James
in a bitter one-on-one battle, James' other opponents ended their bids and followed in the president's footsteps with their support for James. James is set to face Michigan Secretary of State and Democratic Primary winner Jocelyn Benson in the November election.
Michigan's U.S. Senate race
Trump has endorsed former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake in Michigan's competitive U.S. Senate race. Rogers went uncontested in the GOP primary. Rogers is set to face former public health official and Democratic progressive Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated moderate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham.
Rogers also ran with Trump's endorsement in 2024 when he narrowly lost to then-U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly.
Michigan's congressional races
Trump weighed in on two congressional GOP primaries that didn't have a Republican incumbent seeking reelection.
In an election oddity, Trump endorsed Amir Hassan for Michigan's 8th Congressional District, who lost to Thomas Smith, a Republican who had suspended his campaign ahead of the primary. The seat is currently held by incumbent U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, who is running for reelection.
But Trump-backed Mike Bouchard, an Army National Guard captain and the son of Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, won his GOP primary for Michigan's 10th Congressional District, which James has left open with his run for governor. He is set to face Warren lawyer and prosecutor Christina Hines, a Democrat.
Trump endorsed every incumbent congressional Republican seeking reelection. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar of Caledonia, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton, U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett of Charlotte and U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain of Bruce Township didn't face any competition in their respective primaries. But Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland Township fended off primary challenges.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Trump-endorsed candidates fared in Michigan's primary
