Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) is dealing with a major auto strike in her state that could pour cold water on her political ambitions if she fails to navigate it properly.
If things go south or the strike drags on too long, it may make it more difficult for the Democratic darling to position herself for a potential 2028 White House run. Whitmer is considered a rising star in the party after securing a second term last year. Her efforts on behalf of Democratic candidates in 2024, especially President Joe Biden in Michigan, could go a long way in building the goodwill she needs to run for higher office.
UAW ANNOUNCES HISTORIC AUTO STRIKE AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH AUTOMAKERS FALTER
The governor gained national notoriety over her COVID-19 politics and is viewed as a top target for Republicans. While most Democratic operatives believe she’ll be spared any political blowback from the strike, the walkouts could hurt Biden, which in turn would hurt the Democratic Party and Whitmer in the long run.
Michigan was key in getting former President Donald Trump elected in 2016 and Biden elected in 2020.
An extended strike could cripple the president’s reelection efforts in Michigan and Wisconsin, two states he must win next year to stay in the White House.
“It is all about voter enthusiasm and if our base, our young voters, and in this case, our union voters, if they’re not excited and enthusiastic about voting for Democrats, we are going to have trouble at the ballot box,” Yousef Rabhi, who served as the Democratic floor leader in the state House until earlier this year, told Politico.
The United Auto Workers union launched simultaneous strikes at three factories on Friday owned by General Motors, Ford Motor, and Chrysler parent company Stellantis in what is being described as the most ambitious labor strike in generations. The auto industry accounts for about 3% of the country’s gross domestic product. The sting of a strike will be felt first in Michigan as well as Indiana and Ohio, which also have high concentrations of auto jobs. A prolonged sit-out could also lead to layoffs in other auto-related sectors. How quickly a deal is reached will determine how much political cleanup is needed.
“Anything that goes beyond a week, you’re going to start feeling the pain,” Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, said. “Anything beyond two weeks, that’s when the effects start to compound.”
Democratic strategist David McLaughlin told the Washington Examiner that Whitmer won’t be politically doomed if the strike lasts longer than a week.
“Gretchen Whitmer seems like one of the most popular governors in America right now,” McLaughlin said. “Many politically conservative Michiganders have ties or sympathies for autoworkers, so I don’t think this hurts her in the state. 2028 is a long way off, but I am sure she could hand Donald Trump his fourth popular defeat in a row in 2028.”
Despite the optimism for Whitmer, the longer the strike goes on, the more damage it does to the current president’s push for a greener auto industry, something the governor’s administration has also gotten behind and poured millions of dollars of state incentives into.
“We’re building the center of the auto industry as this incredible transition has happened here,” Whitmer said at the Detroit Auto Show on Thursday. “It’s important that workers have a good contract but also critical that the (Detroit) Big Three can continue the work that they are doing.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
She added that there should be a compromise between the parties to ensure a strong auto industry that is fair to its workers.
“We can and must do both, and that’s why I’m hopeful that they’ll stay at the table and get a contract done,” Whitmer said.
