Trump shakes up tradition with Detroit visit during Labor Day weekend

Labor Day weekend in Detroit has traditionally been the stomping ground for Democratic politicians, who make a point to mingle with union members on a weekend dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of the working class.

But Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is turning tradition on its head with a planned visit to Detroit on Sept. 3, his campaign confirmed Friday.

►Related: Hillary Clinton holds 7-point lead over Trump in Michigan in new poll

Democrats are expecting a big political name for its annual Labor Day parade in Detroit, but those details have not been announced yet. In recent years, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have spoken to huge crowds after the parade.

While specific details of the event weren't available, Wayne Bradley, director of the Michigan Republican Party’s Detroit office, said Trump will speak with business and faith-based leaders to deliver his message that Democratic policies have destroyed cities like Detroit. He also may be accompanied by former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon who grew up in southwest Detroit.

Also heading to Detroit next weekend is the Green Party's presidential candidate Jill Stein, who will meet with supporters at Bert's Warehouse Theater in Eastern Market from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 3.

Trump's visit will come on the heels of his latest foray into trying to broaden his appeal to African-American voters. He spoke in Dimondale last week to an overwhelmingly white audience, but asked African-American voters: "What the hell do you have to lose?" by voting for him.

"It’s time to hold Democratic politicians accountable for what they have done to these communities," Trump said about Detroit during his speech. "At what point do we say 'enough'?"

The challenge for Trump — and other Republicans — is that African-American voters widely support Democrats. In 2008, 97% of Detroiters voted for  Barack Obama as opposed to 3% for Sen. John McCain. In 2012, the vote was 98% for Obama to 2% for Mitt Romney. There were dozens of polling precincts — mostly in Detroit — where not a single vote was cast for Romney in 2012.

Gwen Broadneck, 79, of Detroit, said she expects an even larger turnout from African Americans in 2016 who are motivated to vote because of Trump.

"This is really going to be a big turnout because we want to make sure that Trump doesn’t win," she said. "This might be the largest election that we’ve had in a long time."

The visit will be Trump's third to Michigan since the Republican National Convention. He gave a speech on the economy to the Detroit Economic Club earlier this month and was in Dimondale last week. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton gave a jobs and economy speech in Warren and attended a fund-raiser in Birmingham earlier this month. She also spoke at the NAACP's Fight for Freedom dinner in Detroit in May and made stops at several Detroit churches before the March 8 presidential primary in Michigan.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal