Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren’s Michigan campaign operation opened its first office in Detroit Tuesday.

Warren is the first Democratic candidate to open a field office in Michigan to prepare for the March 10, 2020 primary, though several presidential hopefuls have been training volunteers during the last several months. Candidates have said winning Michigan, which turned red in 2016 for the first time in nearly three decades, is vital to defeating President Donald Trump in the next election.

Our campaign office opening in Detroit was packed! Michigan is ready for @ewarren! Thank you to all that came out and signed up to attend & lead events in your community. This is how we’re going to win - building this grassroots community together. #DreamBigFightHard pic.twitter.com/mTDS3vYBk4 — Michigan for Warren (@WarrenforMI) December 11, 2019

The Massachusetts senator was also the first 2020 Democrat to hire a Michigan state director, tapping former executive director for the Michigan state House Democratic caucus Mike McCollum.

“We’re building a grassroots movement for big, structural change everywhere -- and that includes in Michigan,” McCollum said in a statement. “Since announcing her campaign, Elizabeth has visited Lansing and Detroit to talk to Michiganders and share her vision of an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. The campaign has over a dozen staffers and organizers on the ground already and will be opening offices across the state, including our newly opened Detroit office.”

Warren stopped in Michigan several times to campaign so far this year but hasn’t been back since appearing at a September union forum in Madison Heights. The primary field has largely kept a tight focus on voters in states that will cast a ballot before Michigan, like Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Michigan’s Democratic primary will take place after 18 other states, American Samoa and Puerto Rico. However, all registered voters can begin casting absentee ballots for any reason starting Jan. 25, a full 45 days before the election.

Warren has consistently sat among the top three candidates in the primary race, jockeying between former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. A recent poll of Michigan voters by The New York Times/Siena College found Warren losing to Trump in a hypothetical matchup, though other polls concluded Warren has an edge over the president.

Biden presented himself as the only candidate who can take on Trump in states like Michigan at a Dec. 3 fundraiser in New York City.

Warren was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township, one of the few Michigan members of Congress to offer an endorsement in the primary so far. Freshman state Rep. Lauri Pohutsky, D-Livonia, also endorsed Warren.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, endorsed Sanders, while U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, endorsed Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the race this month.

While other candidates haven’t set up offices in Michigan, they are actively training volunteers in anticipation of the primary.

Sanders’ campaign put out a call for Michigan volunteers during the weekend, seeking people who are willing to commit 10 hours each week to the campaign through the March primary.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s campaign said it does not have any paid staff in Michigan. The campaign is coordinating voter engagement efforts with 100 in-state volunteers and holding trainings.

The Warren campaign is holding volunteer training in Grand Rapids and other events in the Detroit area this month.

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