US Vice President Kamala Harris made a campaign stop in Michigan, specifically courting the state’s working-class voters by highlighting the Biden administration’s efforts to create more factory jobs in the state and her support for labor unions. Harris toured an International Union of Painters and Allied Trades training facility, where she praised the union’s work in training workers for good-paying jobs. She also criticized her Republican rival, Donald Trump, for his stance on labor unions, stating that he has consistently filled the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union figures.
Harris emphasized that the Biden administration has made significant progress in bringing more factory jobs to Michigan, citing the example of Hemlock Semiconductor, which is set to receive up to $325 million in federal funding to build a new factory and create 180 jobs in the state. She also highlighted the CHIPS and Science Act, which has provided $30 billion in funding for 23 projects in 15 states, including Michigan, to add 115,000 manufacturing and construction jobs.
In contrast, Trump has criticized the CHIPS and Science Act, stating that he would rather impose tariffs on foreign-made computer chips and promote domestic production through financial incentives. Harris characterized this approach as simplistic and misguided, noting that tariffs would likely contribute to rising inflation and hurt consumers.
Kamala Harris (Image via Getty)
As part of her efforts to court working-class voters, Harris also visited a semiconductor factory in Saginaw, where she emphasized the importance of investing in industries of the future while also honoring the traditions and industries that have built America’s economy. She told workers that the United States must constantly push forward and adapt to changing circumstances, stating “We have to constantly be on top of what is happening, what is current, and investing in industries of the future as well as honouring the traditions and the industries that have built up America’s economy.”
Harris’s visit to Michigan was part of a broader effort to court diverse groups of voters, including black and Latino men, women, and college graduates. She has also been emphasizing her support for abortion rights, forgivable loans for small businesses, and her assertion that Trump is a fascist and a threat to democracy.
