Overview:
- Republican Mike Rogers criticizes Democratic support for EVs as he seeks to defeat Democrat Elissa Slotkin in the election for Michigan’s open Senate seat.
- Rogers’ argument that EVs will hurt jobs may be popular with voters, although research shows it’s likely inaccurate.
- Meanwhile, environmental issues like climate action and protecting the Great Lakes have been largely absent in a race focused on abortion and economic issues.
Republican Mike Rogers has made electric vehicles a centerpiece of his campaign against Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) for the Senate seat being vacated by Debbie Stabenow (D).
At the Republican National Convention in July, Rogers argued the Biden administration’s support for EVs would hurt American jobs, saying the vehicles require 40% less labor to build than traditional gas vehicles.
This rhetoric misrepresents the impact EVs are likely to have on the economy. Research from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Michigan finds that producing EVs requires as much labor as producing gas vehicles. However, much of this work is currently done in non-union battery plants.
Regardless of its accuracy, Roger’s message could resonate in Michigan. An August poll from the Lansing-based polling firm Epic MRA found 51% of Michigan voters disapproved of the transition to EVs.
Slotkin supports EV manufacturing, saying federal investments in facilities like the GM assembly plant near downtown Lansing will help the U.S. compete with China.
Other environmental issues have been largely absent from the race, with Slotkin and Rogers focused on abortion and inflation. However, the outcome of the race and control of the U.S. Senate could significantly impact how the nation responds to climate change and the underinvestment in infrastructure that has contributed to flooding in places like Detroit.
The right-wing Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan to radically restructure the executive branch would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invest in climate action, toxic site cleanups, and water infrastructure. Control of the U.S. Congress could serve as a check if former president Donald Trump wins the election and moves to adopt some of Project 2025’s proposals.
Although she’s viewed as a moderate, Slotkin has a 98% lifetime score from the League of Conservation voters, meaning her votes on key issues have largely corresponded with positions that LCV experts identified as most protective of the environment. Rogers’ score for the seven terms he served in the House of Representatives was 8%.
“Mike Rogers has an absolutely terrible track record on environmental issues,” Christy McGillivray, legislative and political director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, told Planet Detroit.
EV support is partisan, but water could be a winning issue with most voters
By staking out a politically favorable position with EVs, Rogers capitalizes on Democrats’ failure to sell voters on the EV transition.
“They are missing the opportunity to explain it,” said EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn, citing the research showing EVs produce as many jobs as gas vehicles.
He said that voters’ enthusiasm for EVs as an election issue may be hampered by perceptions that the vehicles’ cost and a lack of charging stations make EVs impractical. Around 71% of Michiganders said they wouldn’t consider purchasing an EV, according to a July poll from the Detroit News and WDIV-TV.
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However, these results showed a partisan split on EV manufacturing, with 73% of “strong” Democrats saying it was important for Michigan to lead the nation on EV manufacturing compared to 59% of “strong” Republicans who said it was unimportant.
Porn also questioned why other environmental issues weren’t playing more of a role in the election.
“I don’t understand why environmental issues wouldn’t play a role in any campaign when you’re sitting in the middle of the Great Lakes,” he said, noting that the lakes contain 21% of the planet’s fresh surface water.
He said candidates could find a winning message by promising to fight proposals to take water out of the Great Lakes Basin to meet water needs in the western U.S.
A 2018 study from Michigan State University found strong, bipartisan support for protecting water in Great Lakes states, with 78% of respondents saying they “support” or “strongly support” protections for streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.
Although Slotkin’s campaign website highlights few environmental priorities, it mentions support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, investing in water infrastructure and removing lead pipes. She has previously spoken about addressing PFAS contamination and preventing water diversions from the Great Lakes.
When reached for comment, a campaign spokesperson for Slotkin said she opposed drilling for oil and gas in the Great Lakes Basin. However, the campaign also touted that “since Elissa Slotkin has been in Congress, the U.S. has become a net energy exporter.” Fossil fuels account for 99% of these exports, and emissions from burning these fuels are the main driver of the climate crisis.
Rogers’ website does not feature any environmental issues, and his campaign did not respond to Planet Detroit’s request for comment.
Abortion and the economy likely outweigh environmental concerns in the Michigan Senate race
Concerns about the EV transition and other environmental issues will likely be overshadowed by debates over abortion, inflation and the cost of living, Porn said.
A survey of 1,000 Detroiters in April found the cost of living was the top issue, with many respondents saying federal authorities needed to do more to lower the cost of gas, food and utilities.
“Democrats aren’t communicating all that well on those issues,” Porn said. However, he said Vice President Kamala Harris’ promises to fight corporate greed and lower housing costs may be having an impact.
Despite Democrats’ perceived weakness on economic issues, Slotkin has maintained a polling edge throughout the race. And she plans to spend $32.7 million on TV ads in the coming weeks, compared to Rogers’ $8.5 million. Many of her ads have featured her support for abortion rights, which most Michiganders say should be legal in all or most cases.
Rogers previously said several times that he supports abortion restrictions in all or most cases, although he now says he would respect Michigan voters’ decision to protect abortion access.
But with Slotkin continuing to hammer Rogers on the issue, Porn doesn’t see her losing her advantage.
“Democrats are running on abortion very heavily,” he said. “And that is something that Democrats and even, to a large extent, independent voters are responding to.”