Slotkin pushes back against GOP attacks on electric vehicles with new ad. Rogers sets his record

Washington – As Election Day approaches, U.S. Senate candidates in Michigan and outside groups are battling over the airwaves over electric vehicles and so-called “EV mandates.”

“No one should tell us what to buy and no one should dictate anything,” Democratic candidate and incumbent U.S. Republican Elissa Slotkin of Holly said in a 30-second ad released this week. In the ad, Slotkin stands in front of two trucks loaded with Ford F-150 pickups and one Bronco SUV and claims to live “on a dirt road near a charging station.” Her narration reproduces the text written in capital letters: “BAN TO ORDER ELECTRIC CARS.”

Slotkin’s Republican opponent, former Republican Mike Rogers, used a similar message throughout his campaign. “Biden and Harris want to force you to buy an electric car,” the narrator says in one of his latest ads. Rogers, of White Lake Township, then vows to “fight their electric vehicle mandates, conquer China and save our jobs.”

The mandate label has become a common Republican attack on the Biden administration’s policies aimed at reducing tailpipe emissions and increasing domestic production of electric vehicle technology. But the fact that Slotkin – who supported the policy – reshaped the message to fit her position on the issue shows how central electric vehicles are to voters in Michigan, which is heavily trafficked and skeptical of electricity.

In a July poll commissioned by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV (Channel 4), just over half of Michigan voters surveyed said it was important for Michigan to compete aggressively for a position as an electric vehicle manufacturing center. However, less than a quarter said they would consider purchasing or leasing such a facility.

“Here’s the thing,” Slotkin says in the ad. “If there’s going to be a new generation of vehicles, I want it to be made here in Michigan, not in China.”

More: Livengood: Trump delivers anti-China, anti-EV message that rural Michigan voters want to hear

The Biden administration has not forced consumers to buy electric vehicles, although it has established environmental standards that likely cannot be met without a significant increase in electric vehicle sales. Its other pro-EV policies include tax breaks tied to domestic production requirements, production subsidies, tariffs to protect against Chinese domination, and a proposed ban on the entry of Chinese vehicles on national security grounds.

Slotkin’s ad debuted Wednesday morning and is airing on television in Flint, Grand Rapids and Detroit.

More: Fact Check: Is There a Biden-Harris EV Mandate?

Rogers rejects

The Rogers campaign quickly countered this, placing a voiceover comment under the ad suggesting it was “lying to your face about its electric vehicle track record.”

“I live on a dirt road, near a charging station. So I don’t have an electric car,” Slotkin said. Rogers’ campaign response denied this, suggesting she lived nine minutes from a public charging station.

However, Slotkin’s claim was perhaps irrelevant at all. The vast majority of electric vehicle charging takes place at home. After the upfront costs of installing a home charging port, consumers can charge their vehicles at significantly lower prices compared to public EV charging stations. Home charging prices are also cheaper than comparable gas refueling costs.

According to J.D. Power, upfront costs often range from $700 to $2,000, although some chargers with advanced features can be more expensive.

Rogers’ campaign also suggested that Slotkin lied about her electric vehicle record because she voted against a measure in 2023 that would have eliminated the ability of California and other states to set more stringent emissions standards than the federal government and require electric vehicle sales. The Biden administration has not yet given California permission to adopt the latest set of rules, though many suspect that will happen after the election.

More: Ruling allows Biden to approve stricter California vehicle laws, but SCOTUS comes in

The video response also noted that in September, Slotkin voted against a U.S. House resolution that would have invalidated most of the Biden administration’s environmental standards. More than any other policy, Republicans have often pointed to this regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as key to the electric vehicle mandate.

“After responding to the legitimate concerns of our automakers, the administration developed standards that were rigorous and aggressive, but also achievable — and won the support of the auto industry and the UAW,” Slotkin said in a statement after the vote.

She added: “Today’s attempt by House Republicans to reverse these standards would do nothing to help automakers or Michigan workers, and in fact would create even more chaos and confusion in the industry at a time when they have demanded consistency and stability.”

Rogers’ campaign rebuttal also suggested that a continued shift to electric vehicles would result in the loss of 200,000 automotive jobs in Michigan, citing a recent report from a pro-Trump think tank.

Recent academic research takes a less pessimistic view of the long-term job impact of an industry-wide shift to electric vehicles. In particular, a study from Carnegie Mellon University published in May found that the effects of the transition would be mixed.

Outside groups condemn ‘ban’

American Fuel and Petrochemical Producers, a leading oil and gas lobbying group, also released an ad in Michigan tying Slotkin to the Biden administration’s policies – including Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ – which amount to a “devastating ban on most new gas-powered cars,” though did not point to specific laws or regulations.

The group used the same approach to go after Democratic candidates in other swing states, such as Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Nevada U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen. It began running similar ads in swing states in early 2024 as well.

In a massive cash infusion that could shake up the Slotkin-Rogers contest, the national Republican organization also paid to release a new ad criticizing Slotkin for her electric vehicle record. The 15-second spot highlights that she voted to continue allowing states to require the sale of electric vehicles and establish laws that effectively ban the sale of new gas-powered cars.

After commenting on her views on several issues, the ad ended with, “Vote No for Liberal Elissa Slotkin.”

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@GrantSchwab