Environmental issues compete with economic worries in tight Downriver House race

Democrat Janise O’Neil Robinson is making environmental concerns, such as protecting the Great Lakes and blocking DTE Energy’s political donations, a part of her pitch to voters as she tries to unseat incumbent Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) in the race to represent Michigan’s 28th House District.

Yet, environmental concerns may be overshadowed by financial ones as voters express anxiety about housing costs, taxes and the price of gas in the district that includes Brownstown Charter Township, Flat Rock, Woodhaven and part of Taylor.

Robinson sees environmental and financial issues as connected, praising Michigan’s 2023 renewable energy legislation for tying climate action to job creation. One bill that was part of the legislation, SB 519, created the Office of Worker and Community Economic Transition to help workers transition from jobs in fossil fuel-based industries to positions in renewable energy and other fields.

“I think it’s perfect that we’re looking at it through the lens of jobs and environment,” she told Planet Detroit.

Voters who spoke with Robinson as she knocked on doors in Brownstown on Friday mostly cited economic issues as a top priority. Robinson voiced promises to ensure that state tax dollars were used to improve infrastructure and social services in the district. Meanwhile, Thompson’s website says she wants to lower taxes to ease the burden of inflation for Michigan families and create jobs.

Ed Sarpolus, executive director of the Michigan polling firm Target Insyght, said that voters in the district are often conservative but have supported Democrats who prioritize “bread and butter issues” like jobs and education.

Target Insyght gives Robinson the advantage in the race that Thompson won by just 735 votes in 2022. The race is one of a handful that could determine which party controls the Michigan House in the next term.

Thompson blames energy reliability and affordability problems on Democrats

Thompson addressed environmental issues in a campaign video that blamed state environmental policy for high energy prices and reliability problems.

However, research shows Michigan has struggled with power outages for the last two decades, well before 2023’s renewable energy legislation. Wind and solar generally produce cheaper energy than either coal or natural gas, and these sources are expected to become even less expensive.  

As a legislator, Thompson received a 25% out of 100 score from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters for her first term. She cast three votes that the organization deemed pro-environment and nine anti-environment votes.

Thompson voted for environmentally protective legislation, such as raising fees for illegal dumping and the “filter first” bills to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and daycare centers. She told the Detroit Free Press that she opposed importing toxic waste into Wayne County.

She opposed the 2023 renewable energy legislation and bills to eliminate polluter panels, which gave industry a voice in environmental rulemaking. She also voted against legislation to allow for state-funded ballot drop boxes, permanent absentee voter registration, and other voting rights bills that MLCV considers important for environmental action.

Thompson’s anti-transgender messaging could cost her votes

Thompson’s anti-trans rhetoric overshadowed her messaging on other issues for at least one voter. 

Melanie, a Brownstown resident who only wanted to be identified by her first name, said she was primarily concerned about her local property taxes but would not vote for Thompson based on messaging that she said vilified transgender people.

In a July TikTok video, Thompson filmed the make-up aisle at a Target store, where several ads appeared to show men using cosmetic products.

“What the frick,” Thompson says repeatedly. “This woke shit has got to go.”

She also shows an ad featuring a woman of color and said, “That looks a little like a man too.” This last statement echoes a strain of racist rhetoric that has been used to denigrate Black women like Michelle Obama and Serena Williams by saying they are masculine or are men.

Thompson did not respond to requests for comments on this article.

An Oct. 24 survey by the left-leaning polling firm Data for Progress found most voters disagreed with the use of anti-transgender political ads, and a majority said they would vote for a candidate who supports transgender rights. 

However, Sarpolus said he didn’t think the 28th District was an area where candidates would likely win on LGBTQ issues.  

Robinson makes a case around funding infrastructure and blocking DTE political spending

Robinson is one of several lawmakers in competitive districts who support the Taking Back Our Power Coalition, a group of ratepayers and nonprofits that wants to bar investor-owned utilities like DTE and Consumers Energy from making political donations. Ratepayer advocates have frequently said DTE uses its political spending to avoid accountability.

Sterling, a Brownstown resident who only provided his first name, said it was good that Robinson wanted to stop DTE from making political donations. However, he seemed more concerned with his lack of choices as a utility customer.

“You can kind of get bullied with them,” he said. “Sometimes competition is better, and it drives prices down.”

Sterling also expressed concern about climate change and worried that if Trump became president, he could once again support leaving the Paris Agreement.

However, Sterling was still undecided about the presidential contest. He said neither candidate prioritized the issues he cared about most, which included education and climate.

“This is the worst experience I’ve had and I’m 53 years old,” he said. “I’d rather write my own name in.”

Sterling said he generally voted for both Republicans and Democrats in down-ballot races and hadn’t made a final decision in these contests either.

O’Neil mentioned State Sen. Darrin Camilleri’s (D-Trenton) work to bring infrastructure funding to the district, including a grade separation for a railroad crossing in Woodhaven. She said this was the kind of work she wanted to support, arguing that Thompson had effectively voted against bringing in infrastructure investments by opposing Michigan’s 2024 budget.

Robinson said she wanted to “get the money that we’re paying to Lansing and use it wisely.”

“Yes, I totally agree,” Sterling said.

Robinson: Downriver residents shouldn’t have to pay for others’ pollution

Robinson told Planet Detroit that passing polluter pay legislation was a priority that could speak to Downriver residents. Like many places in Michigan, legacy pollution has made headlines in the district. 

For example, a fuel spill into the Huron River in Flat Rock in 2022 was found to stem from 100-year-old underground storage tanks used by the Ford Motor Co. Lamp Factory.

Robinson said the residents of her district shouldn’t be footing the bill for clean-ups.

“We shouldn’t have to pay for other people’s mistakes,” she said.

Robinson also identified PFAS contamination as a point of concern.

The Huron River, which cuts through the middle of the district, is also a hot spot for PFAS pollution produced at facilities like Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom. The state advises residents to limit their fish consumption from the river east of I-275 and not eat certain species. A “do not eat” advisory is in place for all species further upstream.

Robinson said she had struggled to get pregnant, receiving fertility treatments and experiencing three miscarriages. She worries that PFAS pollution is contributing to fertility problems for women in her community.

The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan for a second Trump administration proposes revisiting PFAS drinking water standards, reflecting an industry talking point that these substances are too ubiquitous to regulate. Robinson said she would support stricter PFAS rules for Michigan if there were rollbacks at the federal level.

“We have a responsibility as state lawmakers to make sure that we’re doing what we can,” she said.