Outgoing LA DA says America’s shift is ‘heartbreaking’ after losing re-election bid
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said America’s shift is “heartbreaking” and wished Nathan Hochman the best after losing his re-election bid early Wednesday. “The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking,” Gascón said in a statement. “Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever, and our commitment will not waver. Nevertheless, I have called Mr. Hochman and wish him the best as Los Angeles County’s next district attorney. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform.” Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, campaigned as a “hard middle” candidate while rejecting several of Gascón’s liberal policies, which Hochman attributed to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. NATHAN HOCHMAN OUSTS EMBATTLED LIBERAL PROSECUTOR GEORGE GASCÓN AS LA COUNTY DA AMID CRIME CONCERNS “The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of DA Gascon’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future. As DA, I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not, since their safety will be my responsibility,” Hochman told Fox News Digital in a statement. Hochman confirmed that Gascón called him Wednesday morning to concede the race and vowed to work with Hochman on a smooth transition, saying “It was a positive call.” GASCON RACE: LA PROSECUTOR ‘INTIMIDATED’ WITH GUN ON DOORSTEP FILES LAWSUIT AS EMBATTLED DA FIGHTS FOR HIS JOB Crime was considered a top issue of the election cycle, with FBI data showing a 4.5% increase in violent crime from 2021-2022. Hochman would often spotlight rising violent crime across the country during debates and received the support of local police unions despite Gascón’s previous service as a police officer. LA PROSECUTOR SAYS BOSS GASCON SENT COPS TO INTIMIDATE HER AT HOME AFTER BLOWING WHISTLE ON SOFT-ON-CRIME MEMO Gascón has previously faced two recall attempts amid growing discontent with progressive policies statewide. He is facing multiple lawsuits, including one from the union representing the prosecutors who work in his office for withholding information on a close ally in an alleged violation of the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Gascón is also facing about two dozen retaliation lawsuits from rank-and-file prosecutors in his office who have previously blown the whistle on actions they view as soft on crime, unfair to victims and potentially illegal. One deputy district attorney was awarded a $1.5 million settlement last year after she sued for retaliation. Deputy DA Shawn Randolph argued she had been transferred to a lesser position after raising concerns about various Gascón policies that may have violated victims’ rights under Marsy’s Law. Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Justice Department looking to wind down Trump criminal cases ahead of inauguration
The Justice Department is looking to wind down two federal criminal cases against President-elect Trump as he prepares to be sworn in for a second term in the White House — a decision that upholds long-standing policy that prevents Justice Department attorneys from prosecuting a sitting president. In making this argument, Justice Department officials cited a memo from the Office of Legal Counsel filed in 2000, which upholds a Watergate-era argument that asserts it is a violation of the separation of powers doctrine for the Justice Department to investigate a sitting president. It further notes that such proceedings would “unduly interfere in a direct or formal sense with the conduct of the Presidency.” “In light of the effect that an indictment would have on the operations of the executive branch, ‘an impeachment proceeding is the only appropriate way to deal with a President while in office,’” the memo said in conclusion. Former Attorney General Bill Barr also backed this contention Wednesday in an interview with Fox News Digital, noting that after Trump takes office in January, prosecutors will be unable to continue the cases during his term. TRUMP VOWS TO LEAD ‘GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA’ IN VICTORY SPEECH: ’FIX EVERYTHING’ Barr told Fox News Digital that a Trump-appointed attorney general could immediately halt all federal cases brought by current Special Counsel Jack Smith in Washington, D.C., and Florida. The charges in D.C. stem from Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. In Florida, they are centered on Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving the White House in 2020. And though Trump would be powerless to halt two state cases filed in Georgia and New York, Barr said local prosecutors and judges need to move on from the “spectacle” of prosecuting the president-elect. “Further maneuvering on these cases in the weeks ahead would serve no legitimate purpose and only distract the country and the incoming administration from the task at hand,” Barr said. He also noted that voters were well aware of the criminal allegations against Trump when they voted to re-elect him for a second term. “The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years,” Barr said. “They did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General [Merrick] Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the people’s decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now.” This is a breaking news story. Check back soon for more developments.
McConnell expects filibuster to remain intact with Republicans winning control of the Senate
With Republicans projected to win the Senate majority in the 2024 election, “the filibuster will stand,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell noted on Wednesday. Even when one party controls a slim majority of Senate seats, the other party can still block legislation from advancing due to the significant threshold required for overcoming the filibuster. “In 1975 the Senate reduced the number of votes required for cloture from two-thirds of senators voting to three-fifths of all senators duly chosen and sworn, or 60 of the 100-member Senate,” senate.gov notes. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE MEANING OF A REPUBLICAN SENATE – AND WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE HOUSE Fox News Media contributor Jonathan Turley tweeted early on Wednesday, “Roughly ten minutes ago, the “end of the filibuster” movement suddenly went silent. In the morning, the rights of the minority will suddenly become the cause célèbre of Washington…” “Consider the differences in the political parties—in our hour of victory, Republicans will defend the minority rights of Democrats to filibuster policies they object to,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said in a post on X. “Think about that @CNN — when you bray about fascism and an end to democracy.” Some Democrats have expressed support for the idea of abolishing the filibuster to ram through their priorities. HARRIS CALLS FOR ELIMINATING FILIBUSTER TO PASS ‘ROE’ ABORTION BILL INTO FEDERAL LAW “Abolish the filibuster. Codify Roe. Expand the Supreme Court. Protect abortion rights by any means necessary. We need all of the above. This is an emergency,” Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri tweeted in 2022. Vice President Kamala Harris called for nixing the filibuster to enact “protections for reproductive freedom …” But while McConnell suggested on Wednesday that he believes the filibuster is “very secure,” he won’t be at the helm of the Senate GOP much longer. SEN. MIKE LEE WARNS DEMOCRATS WOULD ‘RULE AMERICA UNCONTESTED FOR 100 YEARS’ IF THEY SWEEP 2024 ELECTIONS He announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term as Senate Republican leader.
Democrat Vicente Gonzalez wins re-election, defeating Mayra Flores in Texas
Incumbent Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez Jr. won re-election, defeating former Republican Rep. Mayra Flores to represent Texas’ 34th Congressional District, The Associated Press projected Wednesday. With 99% reporting, Gonzalez led Flores 51% to 48%. It was rated a Lean Democrat race in the Fox News Power Rankings. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE 2024 ELECTION Before the 2022 midterm elections, Gonzalez had been representing Texas’ 15th Congressional District. But after the 2020 census, the district was redrawn due to redistricting. Flores was elected to represent the district in a special election in June 2022, after then-Democrat Rep. Filemon Vela Jr. resigned. But during the 2022 midterms, Gonzalez and Flores faced off for the 34th Congressional District seat, with Gonzalez defeating Flores for a full term. Gonzalez, a lawyer, was born and raised in South Texas and was raised in a military family. In the 118th Congress, he served on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. Gonzalez works on veterans’ issues, and has touted his efforts to help constituents “cut through red tape” at the VA. Flores was the first Mexican-born woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She was born and raised in Burgos, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Flores, on her campaign website, says she came to the U.S. at six years old legally and became a “proud, naturalized American citizen.” Flores is a respiratory care practitioner and worked to care for elderly and disabled patients with chronic respiratory issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flores is married to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent and is a mother. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News projects Democrat Tammy Baldwin survives tight race to hold Wisconsin Senate seat
The Fox News Decision Desk projects that Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., managed to survive a tough re-election battle, defeating her Republican opponent in the swing state. She overcame challenger Eric Hovde, a Republican businessman who sought to unseat her. He was notably endorsed by former President Trump. Baldwin will now serve a third term in the upper chamber after first being elected in 2012. FOR WISCONSIN DEMS, A 2024 WIN IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATE IS YEARS IN THE MAKING The race in Wisconsin was considered particularly competitive given the expectation that the state would also be decisive in the presidential election. With the steep decline in split-ticket voting, a Senate candidate would have a much greater chance at winning if the presidential candidate also took the state. The Fox News Power Rankings rated Wisconsin as a toss up in the presidential election as of mid-October. In late September, the Senate race was rated “Leans Democrat.” Top political handicapper, the Cook Political Report, had similarly long held that the Wisconsin Senate race was in the “Lean Democrat” category, but last month shifted its rating to a “Toss up,” citing a closing polling gap between the candidates. SEE IT: WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMER SAYS ‘NO QUESTION’ TRUMP ADMIN WAS ‘MUCH BETTER’ THAN BIDEN-HARRIS A source familiar confirmed to Fox News Digital in October that Baldwin’s internal polling had shown the candidates within the margin of error. Baldwin ran unopposed in the Democrats’ Senate primary and Hovde avoided a competitive primary with no prominent opponents in the Republican race. During the campaign, Baldwin attacked the Republican for his business ventures, highlighting his history as a banker, with one of his financial institutions originating in California. Hovde emphasized Baldwin’s lengthy career in Washington, D.C., thus far and the little daylight between her voting record and the policies of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He also stressed that Baldwin and her partner Maria Brisbane, a private wealth adviser, are not married, and that because of this, the senator avoids having to disclose her financial information and any potential conflicts of interest. WISCONSIN SENATE RACE SHIFTS TO ‘TOSS UP’ BY HANDICAPPER AS TAMMY BALDWIN FIGHTS FOR RE-ELECTION Baldwin earned the endorsement of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors in early October, a notable achievement in the rural state. The group also referenced its endorsements of two Republican congressmen, Reps. Derrick Van Orden and Tom Tiffany. “Senator Baldwin, Representative Van Orden and Representative Tiffany support Wisconsin agriculture through engaging directly with the farming community in their districts,” said WFBF President Brad Olson in a statement. “Wisconsin Farm Bureau looks forward to working with Senator Baldwin, Representative Van Orden and Representative Tiffany as they work on behalf of Wisconsin farmers,” he said. “Each have demonstrated strong support for policies that tackle the critical challenges faced by farmers and the agricultural industry, including securing crop insurance, expanding policies that open up markets for American agricultural products and advancing agricultural research and innovation.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
GOP challenger unseats Rep. Susan Wild in Pennsylvania
Republican Pennsylvania House candidate Ryan Mackenzie is expected to defeat incumbent Democratic Rep. Susan Wild in the state’s 7th Congressional District race. Wild announced that she conceded the race in a post on X early on Wednesday. Wild has represented Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, which encompasses counties such as Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton, since 2018, and was expected to face a tough election battle by her own party. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee identified the district as vulnerable to Republican defeat when heading into the election cycle earlier this year. The Democratic House member ran on a platform of protecting access to abortion, fighting LGBT discrimination, affordable housing, and investing in infrastructure. Wild, who was backed by President Biden this cycle, overwhelmingly votes along party lines, with FiveThirtyEight data showing she has voted for legislation supported by Biden 100% of the time. Mackenzie, on the other hand, campaigned on securing the U.S. border, energy independence, cutting taxes, and trimming government spending. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Mackenzie earlier this year, after the 45th president withheld an endorsement for the district’s 2022 race, when Wild faced Republican challenger Lisa Scheller. VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM FLIP-FLOPS ON IMMIGRATION AFTER DISMISSING BORDER WALL AS ‘SILLY’ “Ryan Mackenzie has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social in August. Mackenzie currently serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, a seat he’s held since 2012 including amid redistricting. Wild has faced tough re-election bids since the 2022 cycle, when redistricting over the 2020 Census took effect and included votes from Republican-friendly Carbon County. Ahead of her 2022 race, Wild came under the national spotlight when she said she “might have to school” rural Trump voters in order to win their support. In a Zoom call earlier this year, Wild recalled how she felt when she learned that her constituency would include a county that “drank the Trump Kool-Aid” after the electoral boundaries for her congressional district were redrawn. “After Trump came along, it went from a sort of working-class blue district to a – they drank the Trump Kool-Aid – and it really became a red county. So, I was dismayed when I got that as part of my district,” she said. VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM CAUGHT ON ZOOM CALL LAMENTING ‘TRUMP KOOL-AID’ VOTERS IN HER DISTRICT Wild later apologized “to anyone I may have offended” over the comment. VULNERABLE HOUSE DEMOCRAT SAYS SHE ‘MIGHT HAVE TO SCHOOL’ RURAL TRUMP VOTERS TO WIN THEIR SUPPORT Pennsylvania emerged as a key battleground state for the presidential race this cycle. Trump narrowly won the state in his successful 2016 election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while President Biden declared victory in the Keystone State in the 2020 election. Fox News Digital’s Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Matt Cartwright concedes race to GOP challenger
Rob Bresnahan, the Trump–backed House candidate for Pennsylvania, is expected to defeat incumbent Democrat Rep. Matt Cartwright, based on current vote numbers as of midday Tuesday. Cartwright had congratulated his opponent and conceded the race late on Election Day. Cartwright was first sworn into Congress in 2013, where he represented Pennsylvania’s 17th District before the state redistricted in 2018 and Cartwright was elected to represent the 8th District. The 8th Congressional District is located in Pennsylvania’s northeastern region and includes cities such as Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, encompassing Wayne, Pike and Lackawanna counties as well as portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties. Cartwright’s re-election campaign was closely watched because he represents one of just nine districts across the country where Democrats worked to defend their seats after former President Trump won the districts in the 2020 presidential election. PA DEM IN DISTRICT THAT VOTED FOR TRUMP SAYS HE’S A MODERATE, BUT VOTING RECORD TELLS ANOTHER STORY Cartwright’s district voted to re-elect Trump in 2020, carrying the district by 2.9 points over Biden, while Cartwright defeated his Republican congressional challenger by just over 7,000 votes of the 286,886 cast that year, New York Times data shows. Cartwright campaigned on a platform of strengthening the economy, protecting access to abortion, fixing “the broken asylum process” at the border and strengthening Social Security benefits. Bresnahan is a fifth-generation native of Luzerne County and CEO of Kuharchik Construction who campaigned on securing the border, cutting taxes and trimming government spending, creating “family-sustaining jobs” in the Keystone State and supporting law enforcement. PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION RESULTS: REP. MATT CARTWRIGHT WINS RE-ELECTION AGAINST TRUMP-ENDORSED CHALLENGER Bresnahan earned Trump’s endorsement for the seat in April. “A successful Businessman, Rob has worked hard to Create Jobs and Grow the Economy, unlike his opponent, Matt Cartwright, who is completely beholden to Nancy Pelosi and the Radical Left. As your next Congressman, Rob will fight hard to Secure the Border, Cut Wasteful Spending, Strengthen our Military, Support our Veterans, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Hold Joe Biden and his Thugs Accountable for their Unconstitutional Lawfare, Corruption, and ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Rob Bresnahan has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump posted on Truth Social. ONE OF NATION’S MOST VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS COZIES UP TO BIDEN FOR PENNSYLVANIA RALLY Cartwright has previously come under fire for portraying himself as a “moderate” Democrat, with Fox News Digital reporting this year that his voting record paints another story. Voting records show Cartwright overwhelmingly voted in line with Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when she served as House speaker and that he continued his membership in the left-wing Congressional Progressive Caucus. DEM REP CARTWRIGHT DOWNPLAYS VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RACE’S SIGNIFICANCE: WILL BE ‘DIM MEMORY’ BY MIDTERMS “Every election year Matt Cartwright proclaims ‘I work for you’ to the working-class voters of the 8th District. How could that be true as a member of the radical Progressive Caucus? It’s not. Matt Cartwright represents the radical left, and they own his vote,” Bresnahan told Fox News Digital in March. Cartwright’s campaign has defended him as “the most bipartisan Democrat in the House, having introduced more bipartisan bills than any other Democrat since coming to Congress.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP All political eyes have been on Pennsylvania in recent months as the state emerged once again as a key battleground for the presidential race. Trump narrowly won the state in his successful 2016 election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while President Biden declared victory in the Keystone State in the 2020 election. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
California DA Pamela Price recalled over ‘progressive leftist’ crime policies
Alameda County, California, District Attorney Pamela Price was recalled early Wednesday, less than two years after taking office, following backlash for her alleged soft-on-crime approach. The effort was backed by the recall committee Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE), and passed with 64.8% of the vote, according to polling results from the county of Alameda. The committee includes former Alameda County prosecutors, county residents, community activists, and crime victims and victims’ families, according to the committee’s website. “It’s been a long, hard 18 months, and we’re hoping to see it turn around for all of the victims,” Brenda Grisham, principal officer for SAFE, told Fox News Digital. “And we’re not just talking about laws that are out there, but she came into office and implemented her own laws, and they were just not conducive and safe for the citizens of Alameda County.” ALAMEDA COUNTY DA PAMELA PRICE FACING RECALL AS SPECIAL ELECTION LOOMS: THE ‘PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN’ “They spoke their mind yesterday, and I’m so excited,” Grisham said. “We are thankful to the voters of Oakland for recalling Sheng Thao and to Alameda County for recalling Pamela Price,” Oakland Police Officers Association President Huy Nguyen said in a statement. “Voters recognized their progressive leftist policies directly harmed and impacted residents, neighborhoods, working and middle class families, and small businesses.” The group filed the necessary paperwork to begin fundraising for the effort in July 2023. The recall effort had acquired nearly 75,000 validated signatures by May of this year, according to the New York Post. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors set a recall election date of Nov. 5 in May. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was also ousted from office after her recall effort passed with 65% of the vote. NATHAN HOCHMAN OUSTS EMBATTLED LIBERAL PROSECUTOR GEORGE GASCÓN AS LA COUNTY DA AMID CRIME CONCERNS Several Alameda County families had spoken out against Price in the months leading up to her recall vote. Florance McCrary, whose 22-year-old son was shot and killed by a stray bullet in 2016, became a vocal advocate in calling for Price’s removal after she abruptly dropped the murder charge of her son’s alleged killer last year. “I was in total shock,” McCrary told Fox and Friends co-host Pete Hegseth. “It was unbelievable to realize that for the fight that took over six years to get to that, it was diminished to nothing. And while sitting there in court, learning even from the judge, well, this is the best we can do.” Fox News Digital reached out to Price’s office for comment. California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell also came out in support of the recall vote, holding a press conference in October where he argued Price had failed victims of violent crime, according to KTVU. PROPOSITION 36 OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES IN CALIFORNIA, REVERSING SOME SOROS-BACKED SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES “The cops catch, and Price releases,” Swalwell said. Swalwell also reportedly filed a defamatory claim against Price this week, claiming Price had made defamatory statements at a news conference a few weeks prior wherein she said that Swalwell wanted to recall her to “shield himself from unethical practices” that occurred while he was serving as a deputy district attorney, according to KTVU. “Pamela Price leaves me no choice but to file this claim against her for her deliberate and untrue statements,” Swalwell said in a statement to the outlet. Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell’s office for additional comment. Fox News Digital’s Bailee Hill contributed to this report.
‘Got our a–es kicked’: Dems privately fret about losing House after GOP victory in White House, Senate
Democrats are growing increasingly concerned that they will narrowly lose the House of Representatives after Republican victories in the Senate and White House. The balance of power in the House is expected to run razor-thin no matter who wins, but sources who spoke with Fox News Digital are worried that the Democrats’ path is narrowing. “We’re almost certainly going to lose the House by a narrow margin,” a senior House Democratic aide told Fox News Digital. “We got our a–es kicked.” The House aide found optimism, however, in Republicans’ comparatively decisive victories in the upper chamber and presidential race. THOUSANDS OF NONCITIZENS REMOVED FROM VOTER ROLLS, DOZENS OF LAWMAKERS WANT ANSWERS FROM GARLAND “If you told me [President-elect Trump] won the popular vote, dominated the electoral college, and they could end up with 56 seats in the Senate, this House map is really not too bad,” they said. A person familiar with House Democratic campaigns told Fox News Digital, “If last night is any indication of how the House will flip, I don’t feel confident. The American people are clearly not buying what we’re selling.” “I think it comes down to the economy, honestly,” the second source said. “People feel like they could have more in their bank account.” As of early Wednesday afternoon, Republicans led Democrats by nearly two dozen projected race wins, according to The Associated Press. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS ELECTION RESULTS The winning party must take 218 of 435 House races to control the chamber, and there are those on the Democratic side still holding out hope but acknowledging the margins would be thin. “I think Democrats are still hopeful…there’s a chance to get some flips to get a narrow majority,” longtime Democratic strategist Joel Rubin told Fox News Digital. Rubin pointed to toss-up seats in California and New York that still have not been called, which are currently held by Republican incumbents, as well as an open seat in Maryland that Democrats are fighting to keep. Democrats are poised to unseat two Republican incumbents – New York Reps. Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams – so far in their quest to win the majority. Meanwhile, Republicans are projected to take control of the open Michigan seat that was vacated by Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin. Reps. Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild, vulnerable Democrats in Pennsylvania, conceded their races to their respective Republican challengers. On the presidential level, Democrats – including those in the House – have already started pointing fingers. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a pragmatic Democrat from New York, blamed the “far left” for Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss. “Donald Trump has no greater friend than the far left, which has managed to alienate historic numbers of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Jews from the Democratic Party with absurdities like ‘Defund the Police’ or ‘From the River to the Sea’ or ‘Latinx,”’ Torres wrote on X. “The working class is not buying the ivory-towered nonsense that the far left is selling.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News projects former President Trump to win Michigan
The Fox News Decision Desk projects that former President Donald Trump has won the critical swing state of Michigan over Vice President Kamala Harris. These 15 electoral votes will add to Trump’s projected victory in the 2024 race. Michigan, part of the so-called “Blue Wall” states that includes Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, was one of the most valuable targets for both candidates in this year’s race. Trump is projected to win the presidential election, and adds the pickup in Michigan to his total. Long known as a Democratic stronghold, Michigan had not gone to a Republican candidate since the late former President George H.W. Bush won the state in 1988. Trump ended that streak in 2016, narrowly defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by less than one percentage point on his way to the White House. ‘UNTAPPED VOTERS’: EXPERTS EXPLAIN HOW CAMPAIGNS TURN OUT VOTE IN MICHIGAN, OTHER BATTLEGROUNDS IN FINAL DAYS President Biden took the state back for Democrats in 2020 in another tight battle, restoring the Blue Wall along the way by also capturing similarly tight victories in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN STOPS FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ALREADY DOUBLE THAT OF 2020, 2016 Both candidates realized the value to the state for their prospects of winning in 2024, with Michigan receiving over double the amount of campaign events from both campaigns than it saw in 2016 and 2020 before the calendar even flipped to November. Michigan was one of seven swing states that were viewed as the most vital to winning the election, with the others being Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Combined, the seven states award 93 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidential election. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.