Category: Michigan

Critics Blast Michigan Bail Reform Bills as ‘Clear Threat to Public Safety’

The Center Square
Graham Filler

Six bills under consideration in the Michigan’s House Criminal Justice Committee would reform state law to limit judges from requiring bail as a condition of release for some accused criminals awaiting trial.

Among other changes, House Bills 4655-4656 and 4658-4661 would stiffen the criteria for imposing detention conditions on a person accused of a low-level crime awaiting trial, denying judges the ability to factor in a defendant’s criminal history, prior failures to appear in court, or potential danger to the community.

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Michigan Election Legislation Would Clarify Early, Absentee Voting Procedures

The Center Square
Penelope Tsernoglou

State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, introduced four House bills that would expand the allowable uses for on-demand ballot printing and clarify statutory language that was missed when implementing Michigan’s Proposal 2 of 2022.

HB 6052 would allow clerks to use on-demand ballot printing for same-day registration voters in a clerk’s office or in election day voting centers. It would also allow on-demand ballot printing for ballots printed in a language other than English so that clerks could avoid having to pre-print large numbers of non-English ballots.

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Michigan House Flips Republican, Ending Trifecta of Democratic Control

The Center Square
Michigan Capitol

Republicans have taken back control of the Michigan House, flipping the chamber they lost in 2022 and ending Democrats’ governing trifecta.

Republicans will likely work to change the series of Democrat pieces of legislation implemented over the past two years, such as repealing Michigan’s Right To Work law, passing gun safety restrictions, handing out corporate subsidies in efforts to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and adoption in the state, and allowing state regulators to override local zoning laws and public choice to expand green energy projects across the state.

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Michigan Supreme Court Expands Democratic Majority as GOP-Backed Judges Fail to Pick Up Seats

Daily Caller News Foundation
Michigan Supreme Court

Democrats expanded their majority on the Michigan Supreme Court, picking up an additional seat, multiple outlets reported.

Both of the Democrat-backed candidates defeated their Republican-backed opponents, shifting the Democratic majority to 5-2, according to multiple reports. Nominees for the state supreme court are chosen during party conventions, although the race is listed as nonpartisan on the ballot.

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Michigan Is a Road to the White House, Rep. Huizenga Says

The Daily Signal
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said he has seen a political shift in the swing state of Michigan.

“It’s interesting to see how Michigan has just grown in importance, and as a crossroads,” Huizenga told The Daily Signal, “quite literally the road to the White House, the road to the Senate [Republican] majority, and the road to our own majority in the House of Representatives, I think runs right through Michigan.”

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Non-Citizen Allegedly Cast Ballot in Michigan, Faces Criminal Charges

Just the News
Voting Stickers

A non-citizen allegedly cast a ballot in Michigan and is facing criminal charges, according to the Michigan secretary of state’s office.

The non-citizen allegedly registered to vote and cast a ballot at an Ann Arbor early voting site on Sunday, per a joint statement from the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office and the Michigan secretary of state’s office. The alleged non-citizen voter faces charges of Unauthorized Elector Attempting To Vote and Perjury – Making a False Affidavit for Purpose of Securing Voter Registration.

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Michigan Bill Would Increase Voter ID Requirements

The Center Square
Michigan Voter ID Bill

Michigan voters would need to provide extensive documentation when showing up to the polls in order for their vote to be immediately counted if a newly introduced state senate bill becomes law.

Senate Bill 1034, sponsored by state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Allen, would require Michiganders to present both proof of identity and proof of residency when signing an affidavit to receive a ballot at polling locations.

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Michigan to Use Millions of Taxpayer Dollars for Free Birth Control

Daily Caller News Foundation
Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer launched a new multimillion-dollar program in her state Wednesday offering free birth control to all residents.

The “Take Control of your Birth Control” program will provide Michiganders with condoms, over-the-counter oral contraceptives and emergency contraception starting in November until supplies run out, according to a press release. The program is being administered by Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services, which was awarded $5.6 million in taxpayer funds to expand family planning services, according to the state’s budget.

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Detroit Muslim Leader Removed from Harris Campaign Rally Says Muslims Feel ‘Unwelcome in This Party’

Just the News
Ahmed Ghanim

A Detroit Muslim leader was removed from a Kamala Harris rally and says a campaign organizer told him to leave without providing a reason.

“She took me to the door, and she closed it, and I found two police officers waiting there, and she said, ‘You have to leave right now,’” Ghanim told the Metro Times on Tuesday. “I asked why she was kicking me out. She wouldn’t answer. I was very calmly asking why I was being kicked out.”

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Michigan Judge Blocks Republican Effort to Limit Votes of Children and Spouses of Americans Overseas

Just the News

A federal judge in Michigan on Monday blocked a Republican-led effort to limit the votes of certain adult children and spouses of military servicemembers and other personnel who are stationed overseas.

The Republican National Committee and the Michigan Republican Party sued Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson earlier this month, questioning the constitutionality of allowing voters who were born to military service members or diplomatic staff stationed overseas to vote in the state if they never actually resided there.

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Complaint Alleges Michigan’s Top Election Official Misrepresented Facts to Keep RFK Jr. on Ballot

The Daily Signal
Jocelyn Benson

Michigan’s top election official, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, is the subject of a bar complaint over her department’s actions to keep independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name on the ballot.

State Sen. Ruth Johnson, a Republican who immediately preceded Benson as secretary of state, filed the bar complaint alleging that Benson manipulated procedures to undermine the Nov. 5 election.

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Michigan Catholic Bishops Slam Whitmer over Viral Skit Accused of Mocking Communion

Just the News
Gretchen Whitmer

The Michigan Catholic bishops conference on Friday slammed the state’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over a skit that appeared to mock people receiving Communion. 

The video, which was posted on social media by podcast host Liz Plank, showed Whitmer placing a Dorito onto the kneeling Plank’s tongue in the same manner that priests place a wafer on the recipient’s tongue in the Holy Eucharist.

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‘Frankly Disturbing’: Cheryl Fritze Unravels Michigan Governor’s Viral Doritos Video

Kaitlin Housler
Gretchen Whitmer

Cheryl Fritze, director of News Operations for Michigan News Source, said the viral video posted on Thursday showing Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer feeding a Doritos chip to left-wing podcaster Liz Plank is “frankly disturbing” and “very offensive to an awful lot of people.”

The video shows Whitmer, wearing a Harris-Walz camo ball cap, hand-feeding a chip to Plank, kneeling in front of the governor.

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GOP County Clerks Assure Michigan Voters of Election Integrity, Safeguards

The Center Square

Republican local election officials and clerks from across Michigan reassured voters that the electoral process in Michigan is safe, secure, and transparent on a virtual press call Tuesday.

In the briefing hosted by the nonpartisan coalition Michigan Partnership for Secure Elections, county clerks outlined the extensive steps taken to secure local elections, including poll worker training, public inspections of voting machines, public audits and election day oversight.

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Whitmer to Sign Bills Unionizing Family Caregivers in Michigan

The Center Square
Caregivers

Two bills awaiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature would unionize the home caregiver field in Michigan by creating a replica of a state council that voters overwhelmingly repealed in 2012.

Senate bills 790 and 791 would create the Home Help Caregiving Council, which would classify home caregivers as employees of the state rather than employees of the person they care for. This would allow the Service Employees International Union to collect dues out of caregivers’ Medicaid subsidies for the purposes of collective bargaining. 

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Feds Charge Five Michigan College Graduates from China Found near Military Site

Just the News
University of Michigan sign

Federal prosecutors charged five University of Michigan graduates from China with several crimes on Tuesday night, after they were allegedly discovered at a military facility in northern Michigan last year.

The graduates were caught with cameras at the facility during a joint training exercise between U.S. national guardsmen and members of the Taiwanese military in August of 2023, according to the Detroit News.

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Michigan Bills Would Prevent State Funding of Companies Using Slave Labor

The Center Square
Bryan Posthumus

Two identical bills introduced to the Michigan House and Senate would prohibit the state from entering economic development deals with companies tied to forced Chinese labor in the global supply chain.

HB 5959, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Posthumus, R-Cannon Township, and SB 1015, sponsored by State Sen. Joe Bellino, would forbid the Michigan Strategic fund from subsidizing or providing tax incentives to companies that appear on the national Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

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Potential Conflict of Interest Between Local Officials and China-Linked Gotion Rattle Michigan Suit

Just the News

The Michigan township that turned against a planned battery plant project led by a China-tied company, and is now being sued over their decision, alleged in court filings that former board trustees failed to disclose conflicts of interest and apparent inducements to approve the controversial project. 

The allegations filed late last week are poised to shake up battery-maker Gotion’s lawsuit against the Green Charter Township and its new board, which moved to reverse efforts by the previous trustees to facilitate the firm’s plans to build and electric vehicle battery plant in the community. The new board’s efforts, Gotion claims, violate a Development Agreement signed between it and the township last year. 

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Michigan Lawmakers Aim to Boost Funding, Recruitment of Law Enforcement

The Center Square

Michigan lawmakers are launching bipartisan efforts to increase police recruitment and benefits as the number of law enforcement officers trends downward in the state. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., introduced legislation Friday that would provide $50 million annually to state and local law enforcement agencies to create “Pathways to Policing” programs aimed at boosting recruitment in the field. 

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Michigan Minors Could Face Social Media Restrictions, Increased Parental Oversight

The Center Square
Kids on Tablet

Michigan House lawmakers are taking steps to increase online child safety by introducing a bill that would impact minors, their parents and social media companies.

The Social Media Regulation Act, introduced by State Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, would require social media companies to verify the ages of new and existing users, restrict companies from collecting data or sharing minors’ personal information, and provide extensive parental controls.

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Michigan Republicans Reveal Plan to Boost School Resources, Student Learning

The Center Square
Students in Class Learning

Following a Michigan Department of Education report showing drops in reading and math proficiency in some grades, Michigan House Republicans have unveiled a multi-step plan to boost student achievement and teacher support.

The plan would provide extra funding for school safety and mental health resources, waive state fees for teachers and modernize the standard curriculum, State Reps. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, and Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, announced Monday.

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Feds: Radioactive Waste Shipment to Wayne County Poses No Environmental Threat

The Center Square
Niagara Falls Storage Site

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers addressed concerns voiced by Michigan lawmakers about the shipment of radioactive waste to Wayne Disposal, assuring the public all proper safety measures are in place and that environmental surveillance will continue throughout the transport process.

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, had submitted a series of questions to the USACE, asking for details about its unexpected plan to ship 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete and 4,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater from the Niagara Falls Storage Site to Wayne County.

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Michigan U.S. Senate Candidates Clash on Electric Vehicles in Labor Policy Visions

The Center Square
Electric Vehicle charging station

Michigan’s U.S. Senate candidates are running on their records regarding labor and economic policy, but they are opposed on the role of electric vehicles. 

Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s approach to labor policy focuses primarily on supporting domestic manufacturing. Her campaign page says she is focused on “creating jobs with dignity, bringing our supply chains back to America, and protecting the rights of workers.”

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Grand Rapids, Other Cities Granted $275 Million for Development Projects

The Center Square
Workers laying concrete

As part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Make it in Michigan” plan, a state board has approved millions in subsidies for development projects in Grand Rapids, Northville and Greenville. 

The Michigan Strategic Fund board authorized a $252.3 million Transformational Brownfield Plan incentive package for mixed-use development projects in Grand Rapids that include construction of the 12,000-seat Acrisure Amphitheater, an 8,500-seat soccer stadium, a riverwalk, and a 21-story mixed-use building with 475 rental apartments, 3,660 square feet of retail and 475 parking garage spaces. 

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Cheryl Fritze: Michigan’s Autocratic Trio of Whitmer, Nessel, and Benson Are Forcefully Intimidating Anyone Who Might Question 2024 Election Results

Kaitlin Housler
Michigan Officials

Cheryl Fritze, director of News Operations for Michigan News Source, said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is “in cahoots” with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel when it comes to conducting the state’s elections and intimidating county election coordinators.

In a recent video, Benson said she would go after local election officials who do not certify election results despite the possibility of legitimate legal concerns about the results.

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Michigan Lawmakers Demand Oakland County End Water Pollution, Citing Community Health Risks

The Center Square
Cleaning dishes in kitchen sink

Michigan lawmakers continue to condemn Oakland County for polluting nearby waterways, demanding the county end its decades-old practice of dumping wastewater overflow through drains that empty into nearby waterways.

“Protecting our waterways and strengthening our infrastructure is one of the most important responsibilities that elected officials in Michigan have, whether we serve at the local or state level,” Rep. Donni Steele, R-Orion, said Monday. “Oakland County officials can’t claim to care about the environment while they continue to put residents and wildlife at risk through this dangerous practice.”

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Michigan Attorney General Admits Michigan’s Minimum Wage Increase Poses Difficulties

The Center Square
Dana Nessel

Republican lawmakers are not the only ones raising concerns about Michigan’s minimum wage changes. Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a motion with the state’s Supreme Court, asking for guidance on how to implement inflation adjustments.

Nessel specifically pointed out how the court’s broad language in its July ruling could lead to five possible options for when and how to adjust the minimum wage over time, with the state Department of Treasury’s approach and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s approach also at odds with each other.

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City of Detroit Hired over 2,000 More Democratic Poll Workers than GOP in 2024 Primary, Violating State Law

Just the News
Voting Station

The Detroit Department of Elections hired 2,000+ more Democrats than Republicans as poll workers for the August primary election, similar to prior elections over the last four years and contrary to state law. That law states that election clerks must “appoint an equal number, as nearly as possible, of election inspectors in each election precinct from each major political party.”

Nearly 80% more Democrats were hired as poll workers for Detroit’s primary election this year compared to Republicans. This stark contrast is a trend that has repeatedly occurred over the last four years in Detroit and happened in Flint in 2022, despite state law requiring nearly equal numbers of poll workers from both political parties.

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Feds Plan to Send Polluted Waste to Michigan

The Center Square
Niagara Falls Storage Site

Michigan lawmakers are expressing alarm at an unexpected federal decision to send thousands of tons of radioactive waste from New York to a disposal facility in Wayne County.

The Niagara Falls Storage Site, which holds World War II era radioactive byproducts and waste from uranium processing during the atomic bomb project, will send 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete and 4,000 gallons of groundwater with elevated radiation levels to Wayne Disposal.

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Michigan Line 5 Case to Remain in State Court and a Setback for Enbridge Energy

The Center Square
Enbridge Energy

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Enbridge Energy’s request for the Line 5 lawsuit Nessel v. Enbridge to receive a rehearing in federal court, returning the case to state court.

The court Enbridge had missed the 30-day deadline after Nessel filed the lawsuit in June 2019 to appeal moving the case to federal court, and that it relied on improper arguments when doing so.

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Michigan Bill Would Protect Some First Responders from Employer Discrimination

The Center Square
Firefighters

A new bill introduced to the Michigan House would protect emergency responders from getting penalized for leaving work to address crises.

Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, introduced HB 5905 Tuesday, which would prohibit employers from discriminating against, disciplining or discharging an employee for being absent from work to deal with an emergency as an emergency responder.

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Michigan Teacher Shortages Alleviated but Student Performance Has Not Increased

The Center Square
Classroom

Michigan has made progress addressing teacher shortages in hard-to-fill subjects and specialties within the past five years, the State Board of Education announced.

Since the 2017-18 school year, the number of certified teachers teaching math jumped 60 percent, 31 percent for science, and 53 percent for English as a Second Language and bilingual education. The number of early childhood education teachers increased by 171 percent.

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Michigan Senate Candidates Bash Each Other for Alleged Deals with Chinese Companies

The Center Square
Mike Rogers and Slotkin

Both Michigan candidates for the U.S. Senate hold “tough on China” stances, but in the wake of the Aug. 6 primaries, Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers have escalated accusations that their opponent supports Chinese businesses. 

“Want to know the truth about Slotkin? All it takes is a quick Google search,” Rogers posted to social media recently. 

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Failed Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Paid $60,000 to Teach University of Michigan Public Policy Class

Admin
Lori lightfoot

The University of Michigan is spending $60,000 to have ousted Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot co-teach a course on public policy this fall, according to her contract obtained by The College Fix.

Lightfoot is a Democrat whose onerous actions on COVID-19, her refusal to give exclusive interviews to white journalists, and rampant crime during her tenure, among other issues, prompted massive criticism and led to her losing her re-election bid last year to Mayor Brandon Johnson. She has since become a darling of higher education institutions, teaching at Harvard, University of Chicago, and now Michigan.

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National Kroger Settlement Brings Funding to Michigan Communities Damaged by Opioid Addiction

The Center Square
Kroger Store

Michigan’s local governments have until Aug. 12 to request funds from the $1.2 billion National Kroger Settlement on opioid abuse.

The Great Lakes state is expected to receive $42 million over the course of 11 years. Eligible communities, at the city or county level, can apply for the funding to be used toward drug abuse treatment. Agreements are expected to be effective by early fall.

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Detroit Students Finished Online Credit Recovery Courses 20 Times Faster than Recommended

The Center Square
Online Class

Students at a Detroit combined virtual school took their online credit recovery courses 20 times faster than the courseware provider suggests in the 2023-24 school year.

According to a public records request filed with Detroit Public Community School District, students took their 11th and 12th-grade English language arts classes in about four hours, while the courseware provider Edgenuity recommends students spend 80 hours on such courses.

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Cheryl Fritze: Kamala Harris’ VP Pick to ‘Certainly’ Influence Michigan’s Muslim Voting Population

Kaitlin Housler
Tim Walz

Cheryl Fritze, director of News Operations for Michigan News Source, said she believes Kamala Harris’ decision to choose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election will “certainly” influence Michigan’s notable population of Muslim voters leading up to the November 5 general election.

Fritze noted how Dearborn, Michigan, is home to the largest population of Arab American Muslims in the country. This population has demanded a ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas forces in Gaza and is “upset” with the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the situation.

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Michigan Secretary of State Announces ‘Panic Button’ for Poll Workers Ahead of Election

Just the News
Election Day

Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson this week announced that the state would implement a “panic button” system for the November election permitting election officials to quickly alert law enforcement in the event of a threat.

“I don’t believe this is announced yet, but we will be rolling out a panic button type of communication for every election worker if clerks work with us, to implement it in their particular voting location to be able to text if something occurs,” Benson said Monday.

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Trump Leads Harris in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan but Ties in Wisconsin, Poll Claims

Tom Pappert
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

A poll released Thursday and conducted after President Joe Biden dropped his bid for reelection shows former President Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris in the battleground states Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan, while the former president is tied with the vice president in Wisconsin.

The New Emerson College pollsters found Trump enjoys his greatest lead in Arizona, where they determined 49 percent of voters support him while just 44 percent back Harris.

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Whitmer Signs Law Banning Gay and Transgender ‘Panic’ Legal Defense in Michigan

Just the News
Lawyer

Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill on Tuesday that outlaws defense lawyers from using a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity as part of their defense argument.

The bill passed the state House in a 56-54 vote, and prohibits people accused of violent crimes from claiming that their alleged victim’s perceived or actual gender identity or orientation caused them to “panic.” Michigan is now the 20th state to pass such a law.

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Poll: Trump Leading Biden in Midwest Swing States

The Center Square
Joe Biden and Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump leads President Biden by 3 points in Michigan and 5 points in Wisconsin, according to the results of a new Emerson College poll.

The poll, conducted July 15-16, surveyed about 1,000 likely voters per swing state. Democrats for the Next Generation sponsored the poll, which has a +/-3% margin of error. It was released Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

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