Snyder urges Michigan GOP to ignore national headwinds

Former Governor Rick Snyder told Michigan Republican legislative candidates to stop relying on national narratives and start selling local solutions. Speaking during a bus tour in West Michigan on Wednesday, Snyder argued that state-level policy decisions affect voters just as much as federal ones.

The tour aims to secure Republican control of the Michigan House of Representatives. Currently, the House is the only branch of Michigan state government where Republicans hold a majority. Snyder said the party needs to focus on lowering taxes, improving education, and simplifying business operations to win seats.

National conditions have created a difficult environment for the GOP. Gas prices remain high, and President Donald Trump faces low approval ratings. Historical trends suggest that midterm elections often favor the party that does not control the White House. Snyder said he wants to counter those expectations by emphasizing what state legislators can directly influence.

“The issues that we have here that we can influence, that we can make a difference on right here in Michigan, are going to make just as large a difference in your life as those national issues. And so we need to highlight those,” Snyder said.

In the 84th State House District, Grand Rapids City Commissioner Drew Robbins is running as the Republican candidate. The district covers the western part of Grand Rapids and nearby suburban communities. Robbins said he wants to pitch a message of fiscal responsibility and basic infrastructure maintenance.

“People want safe and clean neighborhoods, they want good schools, and they want good infrastructure. And, to me, it is such an easy message to sell to people to say you work hard for your taxpayer dollars, and we want to spend them wisely,” Robbins said. His Democratic opponent, Khristian Silvis, is an army veteran who campaigned with Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Monday.

Silvis framed the election as a chance to shift control across the state government. “We need to do everything that we can in order to flip the House, gain the majority further in the Senate and take over the governorship so that we can win real results for the Michigan working families,” she said. Democrats need to win four House seats to take a majority. In the neighboring state Senate race, Representative Carol Glanville is challenging incumbent Mark Huizenga.