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Vice President JD Vance addresses the crowd in Monroe.
The Collegian | Ellie Fromm
MONROE, MI — Vice President JD Vance spoke in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers at a rally in Monroe, Michigan, Thursday evening
“You all can make fun of me on Buckeye football all you need, so long as we get out there and make Mike Rogers the next senator from the great state of Michigan,” Vance, an Ohio native and Ohio State University graduate, said.
Rogers, Michigan Secretary of State candidate Anthony Forlini, Michigan Attorney General candidate Doug Lloyd and Representative for Michigan’s 5th District Tim Walberg, all Republicans, addressed the crowd before Vance, the keynote speaker.
Hillsdale County is a part of Walberg’s district. All speakers said Republican voters need to encourage others to vote for Republicans on the ticket so Michigan politicians can lower taxes and general costs, such as utilities and healthcare.
“If we aren’t a majority, the socialists will be running the show in Washington, D.C., and make it more difficult for John James, as the new governor of this great state, to make the impact that he could by keeping us out of the way,” Walberg said.
Vance said Michigan’s Senate race is being watched nationwide and would be an important victory for Republicans and Democrats.
“I hate to say that Michigan has become ground zero in that [election] battle,” Vance said. “Because on one side [Rogers] you have an amazing American patriot running for the Senate, and Mike Rogers, who’s a lifelong Michigander who has dedicated his entire career to celebrating and serving his fellow citizens.”
Rogers is running against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Many polls show this as a close race. Every Michigander needs to vote for Rogers, Vance said, because Rogers is proud of his state, while El-Sayed doesn’t claim his Michigan roots.
“Instead of feeling gratitude, or instead of feeling love, [El-Sayed] chose to embrace the politics of grievance that is hellbent on our national self-suicide,” Vance said at the LevelUp Training Complex where the rally was held. “You listen to the man talk, and it’s clear Abdul doesn’t love the people who live here. He hates the history of the United States of America.”
Vance reflected on Michigan’s history, noting the nation’s past reliance on Michigan’s industrial strength, such as the auto industry, and how this industry created the “first middle class,” according to Vance.
“You are a state that, when Americans needed an arsenal during the Second World War, this state said ‘aye-aye’ and got to work,” Vance said. “This state brought together 40,000 workers under one roof on an assembly line a mile long.”
Rogers said El-Sayed’s policies would increase Michiganders’ already high costs, such as utilities and gas.
“We already have the highest utility rates in the Midwest, thanks to the Democrats,” Rogers said. “Now, Abdul wants to add a new energy tax that will increase utility bills by $2,000 a family. He also wants to add 20 cents to the cost of every gallon of gas. You’re good having your gas go up?”
Vance told the crowd that it was not enough to vote themselves, but that the crowd also had to encourage other voters to vote for Rogers Nov. 3.
“Michigan, take it from me, you have nothing to be ashamed of,” Vance said. “Let’s be proud of Michigan. Don’t be ashamed of your ancestors. Don’t be ashamed of the factories. Don’t be ashamed of Friday night football.”
