- First-term Senator delivers Democratic response two months into office
- Critiques Trump tariffs reigniting North American trade war fears
- Highlights 22% inflation spike in Michigan auto parts sector
- Joined by Marine veteran affected by Musk-led VA budget cuts
- Positioned as Democratic Party's fundraising leader with 89% donor retention
As working-class families in Wyandotte gathered at UAW Local 387, Senator Elissa Slotkin launched a blistering critique of Trump-era economic policies. The former CIA analyst spotlighted how 25% tariffs on Canadian steel imports have increased production costs for Detroit's Big Three automakers by $4.2 billion annually since 2023.
Regional case study: Lansing-based AutoCore Components laid off 127 workers last month after Mexican buyers shifted to Asian suppliers. These tariffs hit our pocketbooks twice,said plant manager Maria González. First through supply chain chaos, then through $8,000 average price hikes on new trucks.
Slotkin's rebuttal strategically targeted Midwestern swing voters, emphasizing how Trump's DOGE budget cuts eliminated 1,200 VA hospital jobs nationwide. Andrew Lennox, the Marine veteran accompanying her, testified about losing his $58,000/year respiratory therapist position at Ann Arbor's VA center.
Industry insight: While automotive sectors struggle, Michigan's cybersecurity startups grew 18% in Q1 2024 – a trend Slotkin aims to leverage through her proposed Great Lakes Tech Corridor initiative. This contrasts with Trump's focus on traditional manufacturing revival.
The Senator's moderate positioning reflects hard lessons from 2022 midterms, when Democrats lost 14 rural Michigan seats. Her Kitchen Table Firstplatform combines tech investment with trade school expansions, mirroring Germany's Mittelstand model for small manufacturers.