FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Press Contact: Mark Goldenberg, mark@ufford4michigan.com

Oakland County, Michigan — Today, Don Ufford, Democratic candidate for Congress and former head of Global Vehicle Engineering at Ford, called out Donald Trump’s chaotic tariff policies for driving up costs, hurting the auto industry, and putting Michigan jobs at risk.

“My life has been about building things - cars like the Mustang and F-150, teams that worked together, and opportunities for working people,” said Ufford. “But Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs and trade chaos are tearing things down. They’re driving up the cost of cars, making it harder to build things in Michigan, and putting good-paying manufacturing jobs on the line. The threat our auto industry is facing right now is self-inflicted and is the result of reckless actions by Donald Trump.”

Ufford pointed to new reporting that shows U.S. manufacturers cut 12,000 jobs in August alone and nearly 42,000 jobs since April, with durable goods like cars and appliances hit the hardest (CBS News).

“Working people are struggling in this economy. I know what that’s like. I worked at Ford during the 2008 financial crisis, and I was there when Ford had to mortgage the Blue Oval. We had to fight to keep jobs here, and we were able to rescue Michigan’s auto industry through hard work,” Ufford said. “I know what it takes to survive tough times, and I know how much Michigan families sacrifice when the auto industry struggles. When the nation has a cold, Michigan’s auto industry gets the flu. And that has a cascading effect on our entire economy, including on suppliers and small businesses where manufacturing employees shop, eat, and purchase essential services for their families. It’s time for us to call this out now and do something about it.”

Ufford laid out his approach to manufacturing policy:

• End Trump’s Tariff Tax Chaos, and Protect Our Supply Chains: Replace Trump’s blanket tariffs with clear, targeted policies that create stability for businesses and workers. Cultivate stable, reciprocal relationships with allies to ensure automakers have access to the materials they need to build things here.

• Invest in Our Infrastructure: Make historic investments to fix our roads, bridges, and expand our energy and cybersecurity infrastructure. Help businesses modernize their factories, and expand training programs that prepare workers for good jobs building the vehicles of the future.

• Support Workers and Invest in Job Training and Research: Protect workers’ rights, invest in job training and apprenticeships for people who work with their hands, and fund research that provides an incentive for companies to create jobs in Michigan.

“This campaign is about building a stronger Michigan,” Ufford said. “That means standing up to Trump’s chaos and fighting for policies that actually help workers, not hurt them.”

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.

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.