Capitol Connection

From our State Capitol in Lansing to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, WKAR is committed to explaining how the actions of lawmakers are affecting Michiganders. Political and government reporter Abigail Censky leads this section. There are also stories from Capitol correspondents Cheyna Roth, Rick Pluta and the Associated Press. As the 2020 presidential race begins, look here for reports on the role Michigan will play in electing or re-electing the president.

Presidential Contenders O'Rourke, Gillibrand Visit Michigan

WKAR Public Media | By Associated Press

Published March 18, 2019 at 2:28 PM EDT

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Presidential Candidates Beto O'Rourke & Sen. Kristen Gillibrand

Two Democratic presidential candidates are campaigning in Michigan a year before the state's primary.

Beto O'Rourke, a former Texas congressman, made three stops in the Detroit area Monday. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York scheduled events later in the day.

Democrats are emphasizing Michigan early after Donald Trump in 2016 became the first Republican to win the state in decades.

At a stop in Macomb County, a man asked O'Rourke how Democrats can win back blue-collar white workers who supported Trump.

O'Rourke said Trump has successfully "exacerbated the divisions" among Americans, but Democrats must "transcend that" and "be above it" while still confronting economic inequalities and the "hard truths" of slavery and segregation.

O'Rourke also visited a carpentry training school in Oakland County and a Detroit coffee shop.