In the final weeks of the campaign, Republicans have pulled within statistical ties in the Michigan and Minnesota governor’s races where Democrats are heavy favorites, according to new polls released on Friday.
In Michigan, where Governor Gretchen Whitmer instituted draconian Covid lockdowns, Republican challenger Tudor Dixon is trailing by just two points, 49-47 in a MIRS/Mitchell Research poll, well within the poll’s 4.2 point margin of error. The last five polls flagged in the RealClearPolitics average have the race within five points.
Meanwhile, a new Alpha News/Trafalgar poll has Republican challenger Scott Jensen in a 46-46 tie with Democratic incumbent governor Tim Walz. There has been less recent polling of the race, and a Minnesota Post poll earlier this month had Walz with a five-point lead.
According to the FiveThirtyEight forecast, Democrats have over a 90 percent chance of winning. But polls suggesting the races are increasingly competitive are indicative of the recent turn toward a larger wave for Republicans nationally.