A massive, $4.4 billion slab of concrete sits idle over the Detroit River. Why? Politics, obviously. The Gordie Howe International Bridge was supposed to open on June 12. Instead, we got silence and vague excuses about ‘outstanding issues.’ Now, a high-stakes Michigan Senate race is weaponizing the delay. Democratic hopeful Mallory McMorrow is pointing fingers straight at Mar-a-Lago.
In a new ad campaign, McMorrow lays it out plain. She claims Donald Trump is keeping the span closed. The motive? Cold, hard cash. Matthew Moroun, whose family owns the competing, highly lucrative Ambassador Bridge, dropped a cool $1 million into Trump’s super PAC earlier this year. Follow the money. It is a classic play. McMorrow stands in front of the idle bridge in her ad and demands the president ‘open this damn bridge.’
Trump has his own spin. Back in February, he demanded Canada hand over half the bridge’s ownership. Canada paid for the whole thing, by the way. The project started under former Republican Governor Rick Snyder back in 2018. It is a vital economic artery named after hockey legend Gordie Howe. But right now, it is just an expensive political football.
McMorrow needs a spark. She is running uphill. The primary is a three-way scramble featuring establishment favorite U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive darling Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens has the backing of an AIPAC-linked PAC, which has already dumped nearly $8 million into the race. McMorrow’s allies are fighting back with a $6 million ad buy of their own. It is an expensive, noisy brawl.
The winner of this Democratic slugfest gets to face Republican Mike Rogers. Rogers is also playing the bridge card, promising he will get the lanes open if elected. Everyone wants to take credit for the concrete. Meanwhile, the trucks wait. The toll booths collect cash. And the voters are left wondering who is actually pulling the strings. Six weeks remain. Anything can happen.
