Republican votes rise, Democratic votes fall in Leelanau in 2024 Michigan Primary

From staff reports

Significantly more Leelanau County residents voted on the Republican than on the Democratic side of the ballot in yesterday’s Michigan presidential primary election — the opposite of the results from the 2020 primary election. President Joe Biden (Democrat) won the County in the November 2020 general election, making Leelanau a blue county amidst a sea of rural red. Voter turnout yesterday in Leelanau was 35 percent of eligible voters, compared to 39 percent in 2020.

According to results from the County Clerk — as of yet unofficial until they are canvassed tomorrow — 4,240 people voted for Republicans: Donald Trump received 2,567 votes; Nikki Haley received 1,453, with another 121 voting “Uncommitted.” Democrats tallied 3,267 votes: 2,803 for Biden and 336 Uncommitted—the latter inspired, in part, by a protest movement upset with the President’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza. Michigan’s ballot also included the names of other candidates, some of whom have officially dropped out of the race.

In the 2020 primary, by contrast, 5,623 cast ballots on the Democratic side — 3,077 for Biden and 1,888 for Bernie Sanders. That year, 2,355 cast votes for Republicans — 2,190 of those for (then incumbent) Trump.

That being said, Biden won more votes (2,803) than Trump (2,567) yesterday, which could prove instructive once the campaign eventually becomes a two-way race.

It’s unclear how many votes for Haley yesterday were Democratic-leaning voters who switched ballots in order to vote against Trump.