Don Ufford: “If JD and Trump Want to Get Serious about Manufacturing, They Can Give Me a Call.”
Don Ufford: “If JD and Trump Want to Get Serious about Manufacturing, They Can Give Me a Call.”
Oakland County, Michigan — As Vice President JD Vance visits Oakland County, former Ford engineer Don Ufford is calling out the impact of the Trump-Vance economy on Michigan workers. “Today JD Vance is going to claim that he and Donald Trump have revitalized American manufacturing,” Ufford said. “It’s a lie. Costs are up, manufacturing jobs are down, and Michigan workers deserve better.”
“In just the past year, we’ve seen manufacturing facilities shut down across Southeast Michigan, in particular throughout our auto supply chain,” Ufford said. “That’s hundreds of good-paying jobs gone on their watch.”
Ufford, a former Ford engineer who worked on reshoring manufacturing in the Biden Administration, said Michigan should be leading the next generation of American manufacturing, not losing ground.
“Trump’s reckless tariffs and cuts to critical investments are hitting Michigan workers first and hardest. I know what it takes to build things here. At Ford, we had to get 60 vehicles an hour off the end of the assembly plant. That’s only possible when you have a real plan and you’re focused on getting things done. The Trump Administration is all chaos, and has zero focus on helping working people.”
“Michigan families are paying more for everyday goods while their job security becomes less certain,” Ufford said. “We need to lower costs, strengthen our supply chains, and make sure we’re creating good-paying jobs right here in Michigan.”
Ufford also released the following video this morning outside a closed manufacturing plant in Auburn Hills: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17UkgPsZEq/
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About Don Ufford
Don Ufford is a former Ford engineer and business leader who lives in Bloomfield Township. He rose through the ranks at Ford Motor Company to become Director of Global Vehicle Engineering, where he helped lead development of the Ford Escape and new models of the Mustang and F-150. In 2020, Don joined the federal government to strengthen American manufacturing and economic growth, serving at the Department of Commerce, NIST, and the Made in America Office at OMB, where he fought to secure more than $50 million for Michigan workforce training initiatives. Ufford is running to build things here in Michigan, protect our healthcare, lower costs, and defend our freedoms.
Don has spent decades giving back to his community, serving as a Scout Leader for 40 years, mentoring STEM students through First Robotics, and supporting local small businesses. He and his wife Rebecca live with their dog, Newton. They have two grown children — their son, a West Point graduate serving in the U.S. Army, and their daughter, who is in medical school.
Learn more at www.ufford4michigan.com. Watch the campaign’s launch video here. Follow Don on social media: Facebook | Instagram | X | Bluesky.
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