Trump campaign releases endorsement list of 51 Michigan Republicans

As Michigan’s presidential primary approaches in less than two weeks, the campaign of former President Donald Trump is touting his support among elected officials.

On Wednesday, the campaign released a statement naming over 50 GOP members of the Michigan Legislature who have officially endorsed him.

They include 12 out of 18 Senate Republicans and 39 out of 54 House Republicans. Among the more prominent names are both Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Twp.) and his counterpart in the House, Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.).

At this point, Trump’s only Republican rival still left in the race is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who also served for a time as the U.N. ambassador during Trump’s term. She has failed to attract any endorsements from elected Republicans in Michigan, although she did draw an endorsement from the Detroit News.

Republican presidential delegates will be selected through a process that starts with the Feb. 27 presidential primary. However, because Republican National Committee rules ban most states from holding a primary before March 1, only 16 of the 55 delegates will be awarded based on the primary. The remaining 39 will be based on the results of a March 2 caucus.

One of the few states allowed to hold a GOP primary before March 1 is Haley’s home state of South Carolina, which is set for Feb. 24. She faces a similar endorsement gap there, as both U.S. senators, Lindsey Graham and Tom Scott, have endorsed Trump, as has current Gov. Henry McMaster.

Haley has dismissed the lack of endorsements, claiming they are of the party’s “political elite” and not necessarily representative of rank and file Republicans, although Trump has so far dominated the nominating process, with double-digit wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, and polls showing him on track to do the same in South Carolina and Michigan.

Trump plans to visit Michigan this weekend, with a campaign stop Saturday night in Waterford Township.

In addition to Nesbitt, state senators endorsing Trump are: Joseph Bellino; Jon Bumstead; Kevin Daley; Roger Hauck; Michele Hoitenga; Dan Lauwers; Jonathan Lindsey; Ed McBroom; Rick Outman; Jim Runestad; and Roger Victory.

In addition to Hall, state House members endorsing Trump are: Greg Alexander; Joseph Aragona; Andrew Beeler; Brian BeGole; Robert Bezotte; Matthew Bierlein; Ann Bollin; Ken Borton; William Bruck; Steve Carra; Cam Cavitt; Jay Deboyer; James DeSana; Joseph Fox; Neil Friske; Alicia St. Germaine; Phil Green; Jamie Greene; Mike Harris; Mike Hoadley; Gina Johnsen; Thomas Kunse; Sarah Lightner; Matt Maddock; Luke Meerman; Jerry Neyer; Pat Outman; Bryan Posthumus; David Prestin; Angela Rigas; John Roth; Bill G. Schuette; Josh Schriver; Rachelle Smit; Jamie Thompson; Pauline Wendzel; Douglas Wozniak; and Dale Zorn.

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