It’s Complicated

ASELF-EFFACING FORMER MORTGAGE BROKER, MIKE Detmer has never thought of himself as a particularly polarizing figure. But that changed the moment Donald Trump endorsed him for the Michigan state senate in a race few outside of the district were paying attention to until the former president weighed in.

Detmer, who previously mounted an unsuccessful run in the 2020 Republican primary for the U.S. congressional seat representing southern Michigan’s 8th District, is now challenging Lana Theis, an incumbent Republican state senator representing District 22 in the Detroit exurbs. Theis easily won her race in 2018 and had been considered a relatively safe bet for reelection in the solidly red district until Trump’s backing of her competitor provided a jolt of fundraising to his campaign. Now, some state GOP officials worry, Trump’s intervention in the race will force Theis to spend more resources to fend off the primary challenge and put a relatively safe seat in jeopardy. State Democrats are suddenly energized, believing that an ugly primary fight on the Republican side could open the door for an upset in November.

“Not many voters are interested in RELITIGATING the 2020 election. I’ve told the president this; it doesn’t seem to have any effect.”

“Donald Trump may help our dreams come true in Michigan 22,” says Abby Rubley, communications director for the Michigan Democratic Party.

Therein lies the challenge for the GOP in 2022—and beyond. As the former and possibly future president of the country, Trump holds more power and sway than anyone else in the party; who he backs in state races makes a big difference in fundraising and, ultimately, votes. Increasingly, though, Trump seems to be choosing candidates based on whether they support his claims, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the 2020