The Michigan Senate campaign between Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) has taken a contentious turn, with both candidates trading accusations of ties to China. As the election approaches, Rogers’ campaign has launched a new website, claiming that Slotkin’s congressional record has harmed the livelihood of Michiganders by allegedly coordinating with a Chinese-owned electric vehicle battery company.
The website states that Slotkin signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) with Gotion, a Chinese-owned company, to coordinate the development of a Gotion plant in Michigan. However, the Slotkin campaign has denied this, saying that the claim is “completely false” and that she never signed an NDA related to the Gotion project.
In fact, Slotkin did sign an NDA, but it was with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and it was related to two different economic development projects in her district. Multiple news outlets have reported that there is no evidence of Slotkin signing an NDA related to the Gotion project.
The Rogers campaign’s claim is part of a broader effort to paint Slotkin as soft on China and to capitalize on concerns about the country’s growing influence in the auto industry. The proposed Gotion plant has been widely unpopular with Michiganders, with many fearing that embracing electric vehicles will make the United States dependent on China, which dominates the mining of minerals needed to build electric vehicle batteries.
The auto industry is a crucial part of Michigan’s economy, contributing $304 billion to the state’s economy and accounting for 21% of all U.S. auto production in 2022. While some automobile manufacturers, such as General Motors, are embracing electric vehicles, Michigan voters remain divided on the issue, with some fearing that the country’s dependence on China will hinder its ability to compete in the development of electric vehicles.
