In November, rising gas prices in Michigan are likely to have significant implications for Vice President Kamala Harris and the upcoming House, Senate, and presidential elections. Currently, the average price of gas in Michigan is $3.74 per gallon, which is 25 cents higher than the national average, as reported by The Auto Club Group (AAA. This is bad news for Vice President Kamala Harris, who will be fighting to secure a win in the swing state where her record is tied closely to the Biden administration.
The Biden administration’s decision to shut down the Keystone Pipeline and ban energy leases on federal land has contributed to surging national gas prices that are up to 50% higher than before Joe Biden took office. Other factors affecting the rising cost of gas include refinery issues in Joliet, Illinois, and increased gasoline demand across the upper Midwest.
Mike Rogers, the Trump-endorsed GOP candidate for Senate in Michigan, criticized his Democrat opponent, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, linking her to Vice President Harris’ energy policies, which he says have resulted in nearly $4 per gallon gas prices at the pump. Similarly, GOP congressional candidate Tom Barrett targeted his Democratic opponent Curtis Hertel Jr., who he is challenging in Michigan’s 7th District, by pointing out that Hertel supported a 45-cent gas tax increase that did not pass the GOP-controlled legislature in 2019.
Barrett also defended his own record on taxes, stating that while he has voted to raise taxes on gas in the past, the increase was not as much as the one proposed by Hertel. As a believer in the “drill baby, drill” philosophy, Barrett argues that the solution to high gas prices lies in exploiting US domestic oil reserves and reopening closed pipelines.
Michigan is a crucial swing state for Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid to secure 270 electoral college votes. If high gas prices lead voters to support GOP candidates, her “blue wall” strategy may be at risk. Economist Mark Zandi has predicted that gas prices will play a significant role in determining the outcome of the election. His forecast suggests that if national gas prices fall towards $3 per gallon by Election Day, President Joe Biden should win re-election. However, if pump prices rise to more than $4, former President Donald Trump may prevail.
