Trump's Electric Vehicle Criticism Resonates with Michigan Voters as Harris Fights to Reassure
Doug, a longtime resident of Warren, Michigan, spends his days working on Ford’s electric vehicles as a machine repairman, but he has no intention of purchasing one himself. Once a Democrat and a proud union member, Doug—who prefers not to reveal his last name due to concerns about his union’s reaction—is the kind of voter Donald Trump aims to sway, while Kamala Harris fights to win him back.
In the final stretch before the election, Trump has sharpened his attacks on electric vehicles, warning Michigan voters that Harris plans to ban gas-powered cars, a move he claims threatens jobs in the state’s vital auto industry. This message resonates with Doug and other Michigan voters who spoke with the BBC.
“It’s already cost people their jobs, and it’s going to cost more,” Doug shared outside a Meijer supermarket in Warren, a sentiment echoed by other voters.
Harris, in response, has pushed back on these claims, assuring voters in Flint, Michigan, that she isn’t trying to outlaw traditional vehicles. While she supported phasing out gas cars during her 2019 presidential bid, Harris now insists, “I will never tell you what kind of car you have to drive.”
Trump’s criticism of electric vehicles is a key part of his Michigan strategy, as he appeals to the working-class base in this crucial swing state. At a recent Detroit Economic Club event, Trump argued that United Automobile Workers president Shawn Fain’s push for electric cars would devastate the auto industry.
This fear resonates with some voters. “I want things to stay like they’ve always been,” said 82-year-old Warren resident Ruth Zimmer. She, like others, distrusts electric cars and the economic impact they may have on jobs in Michigan.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a supporter of Harris, recently visited Michigan to counter Trump’s narrative, emphasizing that the shift toward electric vehicles should be about choice. “Nobody’s mandating anything,” Walz assured voters, appealing to their preference for traditional cars.
Despite this, Harris’s support in Michigan has slipped in recent polls, with a Quinnipiac University survey showing Trump leading by three points. While Harris and her allies argue that investments in electric vehicle production are helping Michigan, many voters feel the benefits aren’t enough.
The auto industry is grappling with a major transformation. Factories in Michigan, like a General Motors plant in Lansing, have received federal funding to shift from gas to electric production. Still, some Republicans, including Trump’s running mate JD Vance, argue these investments are mere “table scraps” compared to the potential job losses.
The debate over the future of the auto industry, particularly as it transitions to electric vehicles, is central to this election, with both candidates vying to win over the state’s influential auto worker population. While union leaders, including Michigan’s Teamsters president Kevin Moore, have endorsed Harris, some rank-and-file members remain unconvinced.
As Moore put it, “They’re smart. They know Trump’s fearmongering isn’t true. The two kinds of cars—electric and gas—can coexist.” But winning back the trust of disillusioned former Democratic voters, like Doug, remains a challenge for Harris in the closing days of the campaign.
