Elissa Slotkin's Strategy Might Beat Trumpism

TRENTON, Mich. ― Control of the White House and Senate could come down to a relatively small number of undecided voters here in Michigan. That’s not a coincidence: The sitting vice president’s surest path to the presidency lies in winning Michigan plus two other Great Lakes states, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, who together form the electoral “Blue Wall.” These states have similar political profiles and are full of recently elected Democratic officials who, like Slotkin, have won elections by pursuing a pragmatic, problem-solving agenda while fighting fiercely to stop Trump. He will not protect you.” U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic candidate for the open Michigan U.S. Senate seat, left, and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers the Republican candidate vying for the seat, debate the issues Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, with moderators Alicia Smith, Chuck Stokes and Carolyn Clifford of WXYZ-TV in Southfield, Mich. via Associated Press Slotkin has also focused on Rogers’ opposition to giving the federal government the power to negotiate pharmaceutical prices — not just to highlight his record on a key pocketbook issue, but to make a broader point about his priorities. DREW ANGERER via Getty Images During the HuffPost interview, Slotkin acknowledged that the Republican arguments about transgender athletes in particular resonate with plenty of Americans who don’t identify as conservative — including, she said, constituents who have pulled her aside to say, “I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I’m just not down with these issues.” But Slotkin, who said she played three sports in high school, is quick to condemn the GOP’s anti-trans crusade. But Slotkin is also unequivocal that Israel had a right to respond against Hamas militarily, telling HuffPost, “The idea that a country wouldn’t go after terrorists and killers who massacred and raped people is insane.” She went on to say that some civilian casualties were inevitable, and that “it really pisses me off that the media and lots of other folks don’t give any responsibility for to Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran.” On Capitol Hill, Slotkin has voted to support continuing aid to Israel, though she has said she would consider making future aid conditional on Israel increasing humanitarian relief for Gazans.