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    • In Saginaw, Vance says Harris will “kill” the American auto industry.
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    In Saginaw, Vance says Harris will “kill” the American auto industry.

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    Saginaw Township — JD Vance focused on former President Donald Trump’s vision for the American auto industry at a campaign stop Tuesday in Saginaw Township, where he accused Vice President Kamala Harris of trying to “kill the American auto industry.”

    “Luckily they haven’t finished the job yet,” Vance said from a stage at the Center Courts recreation center. “But if they stay in the Oval Office for another four years, I really believe everything we’ve seen over the last four years will accelerate and Michigan autoworkers will pay the price.”

    Harris and Trump’s contrasting visions for the auto industry have been the focus of the campaign in Michigan, a key swing state where both candidates make frequent stops as Election Day approaches. Vance was scheduled to make a second stop in Holland on Tuesday afternoon.

    Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, rallied his supporters midday Tuesday in Saginaw County, known as a crucial swing district in a must-win state for presidential candidates. A majority of voters in the county supported Trump in 2016 but switched to supporting Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020.

    Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio and Trump’s nominee for the Nov. 5 presidential election, on Tuesday again criticized what he called “electric vehicle regulations” proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration.

    The Biden administration has not mandated the purchase or sale of electric vehicles. New gas-powered cars and trucks continue to be sold. The Biden administration in March proposed tougher emissions standards that will be difficult for companies to meet without increasing electric vehicle sales.

    “Donald Trump and I believe you should be able to drive any car you want,” Vance said.

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    Video: US Senator JD Vance speaks to his supporters in Saginaw

    U.S. Senator JD Vance speaks to supporters in Saginaw, Michigan on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

    Vance said Trump would use tariffs on foreign cars to support American industry, similar to some European countries’ tariffs on American cars.

    “We’re going to make them a very, very simple offer,” Vance said. “Either, one, you let us sell Michigan cars all over the world, or two, you will pay a hefty tariff if you try to bring foreign cars back into the American market.”

    During his campaign stops in Michigan, Harris touted federal investments made and promised to Michigan’s auto manufacturing bases, including a $500 million grant to convert General Motors’ Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant into an electric vehicle assembly plant.

    Vance in early October called that investment “table scraps” compared to what he predicted would be job losses as a result of a Harris presidency.

    Harris’ campaign again criticized Vance’s use of the term “table scraps” in a press release sent Tuesday in response to Vance’s visit to Saginaw County.

    “The table scraps they are referring to are the table scraps that feed my members every day,” Justin Pomerville of the plumbers and pipefitters union United Association Local 85 said in a statement. “We have never had a more supportive legal structure for hard-working people. Safety standards are high, the work is plentiful and we are well on our way to achieving great things.”

    Both campaigns made repeated stops in the Saginaw area.

    Harris visited nearby Thomas Township on Monday to tour the Hemlock Semiconductor plant, which recently received a $325 million federal grant. While addressing employees at the plant, Harris noted that high-wage jobs would be created there, including some that do not require a college degree.

    Harris’ vice president, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, attended an Oct. 20 service in Buena Vista Township in Saginaw County.

    For Bethany Lang, 73, of James Township and Arria Sicard, 74, of Thomas Township, who attended Vance’s campaign stop in Saginaw together on Tuesday, the economy is among the top issues in this election cycle. Both wore red, white and blue outfits.

    “Everything went up,” Lang said. “Personally, I need to help my children and grandchildren more to master their financial lives. And they are people who went to school.”

    “Children have needs. My husband and I are retired, but we essentially support our grandchildren.”

    According to a news release from the Michigan Democratic Coordinated Campaign, United Association Local 85’s Pomerville, Saginaw County Democratic Party Chairwoman Aileen Pettinger and SVSU College Democrats President Noah Johnson held a news conference in Saginaw ahead of Vance’s speech reject his appearance. They criticized Trump’s economic policies in his first term, which they said favored wealthy people over the working class.

    Trump’s plans for a next term “would weaken unions and eliminate more jobs. It would cause the national debt to explode,” said Pettinger.

    “If he wins again … he will undo the progress we have made in growing Michigan’s manufacturing economy, thanks to the good work of the Biden-Harris administration,” Pettinger said.

    Both presidential campaigns are encouraging Michigan residents to cast their vote before Election Day through early in-person voting or absentee voting.

    Nearly 2 million voters in Michigan have already cast their ballots as of Nov. 5, with 1.6 million votes cast through absentee ballots and more than 389,000 votes cast in person at early voting centers across the state, according to the secretary of state’s office. Early in-person voting lasts until November 3rd.

    More: Kamala Harris pushes for early voting, halts production during campaign stops in Michigan

    State Rep. Bill G. Schuette, R-Midland, was among the speakers who took the stage before Vance. He encouraged the crowd to redouble their efforts to support Trump before Election Day.

    “You have seven days to make those calls, knock on those doors and cast your vote,” Schuette said.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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