Former President Donald Trump is taking a big step in Minnesota and Virginia, two states that have traditionally voted for Democrats. The Trump campaign is opening a total of 19 field offices in these states as the 2024 presidential election approaches in less than five months. This move is seen as an effort to expand operations and potentially flip these states in favor of the former president.
According to a memo obtained by Fox News, the Trump campaign is in the process of securing leases for eight field offices in Minnesota and eleven in Virginia. Staff has already been hired to oversee operations in each state, and the campaign is working on building teams for each field office to support Trump.
The campaign is planning to distribute materials in early July and has started recruiting Trump Force 47 Captains for training. Both Minnesota and Virginia are considered competitive states in the upcoming election, and the campaign is hopeful to win over these states and expand the electoral map in 2024.
Internal surveys highlighted at a recent Republican National Committee retreat suggested that both Minnesota and Virginia are “clearly in play” for Trump. Despite it being two decades since a Republican won Virginia in a presidential election, recent polling indicates a close race in the state. A Fox News poll conducted in June showed both Trump and the current Democratic president with 48% support each in a head-to-head match.
Minnesota, on the other hand, has not been won by a Republican in a presidential election since 1972. However, a recent poll showed a competitive race between Biden and Trump in the upcoming election. Trump narrowly lost Minnesota in 2016 but was defeated by a larger margin in 2020. The former president remains optimistic about winning the state, as indicated by his speech at a recent fundraising dinner.
The poll also revealed a significant enthusiasm gap, with more Trump supporters expressing strong enthusiasm for their candidate compared to Biden supporters. This could potentially play a crucial role in the outcome of the election in these states.
Overall, the Trump campaign’s decision to open field offices in Minnesota and Virginia reflects a strategic move to target traditionally Democratic states and potentially secure electoral votes in the upcoming election. With the campaign actively working to build teams and recruit volunteers, the race in these states is expected to intensify as the election draws nearer.