Whitmer says polls showing Harris lead in Michigan ‘not true’

While speaking Thursday during the Texas Tribune Festival, Whitmer said he believes Harris can win Michigan in November, but cautioned that the results will be closer than polls have indicated. During his discussion, the governor referenced a recent CNN/SSRS poll that showed Harris before Trump of 48% to 43%.

“It makes me nervous to see a poll that says Kamala Harris has a five-point lead in Michigan right now,” she said. “It’s just not true.”

“It’s going to be a very close race,” she continued. “I think we can win. And I think we will. But it will be very close.”

Democratic presidential candidates won Michigan in every election from 1992 to 2012. But Trump won the state in 2016, winning over some of the working-class and union voters who have long been a key part of the state’s Democratic coalition. Some of those voters supported Biden in 2020 and remain on the hook ahead of November.

Trump has been campaigning in the state in recent weeks and sought the support of union leaders in a state Whitmer described as a “microcosm” of the United States.

“As we see these polls, I say to everybody, don’t get comfortable,” Whitmer said during the panel. “You can’t sleep on Michigan.”