DETROIT (FOX 2) – Michigan’s 15 electoral votes are up for grabs in a tight race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

This year, no specific issue is on the ballot. Instead, these issues are part of the larger races for president and Congress. Electric vehiclesinflation and Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza and now Hezbollah in Lebanon are leading Michigan voters.

How Trump and Harris propose their visions around these issues could define whether Michigan continues its support for Democrats — or swings back to Republicans.

In what has been one of the busiest political seasons in recent memory, uncertainty about the outcome of the next election looms large. Michigan’s last two presidential elections have been close, and this year’s polls indicate the winner could win by the slimmest of margins.

The vote that each party spends the most money on is the one for president. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on TV and digital advertising, as mailboxes fill with pamphlets and campaign signs litter yards.

There’s a lot at stake in the presidential race, in part because of the drastically different directions both Harris and Trump are promising should they win the presidency. Looking at the rallies each candidate has held in Michigan, as well as the remarks they’ve made to their supporters, reveal starkly divergent views.

During her mayoralty in Farmington Hills, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Harris told the audience: “There is so much at stake in this election, and ultimately the question before us is what kind of country do we want to live in?”

The problems

Harris laid out his economic proposals to end price gouging to lower food prices, cut taxes on the middle class and parents to reduce childcare costs while promoting the creation of more housing to reduce the costs of renting and buying a home.

Meanwhile, Trump has proposed an unprecedented series of tariffs on imported goods as a means to boost manufacturing jobs. To make housing more available, he says deporting illegal immigrants will expand access and make the prices cheaper.

Electric vehicles represent one of the most important problems in Michigan, bringing together energy, manufacturing and climate change topics that are all relevant to the state. The Harris-Biden administration has made massive investments in the sector to help floating companies like General Motors and Ford transition to battery-powered vehicles.

Not everyone in the state joined the White House’s support, with only 41 percent of the state approving of the effort as a means to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. according to the latest Michigan survey.

There is also some trepidation among auto workers about what a transition could mean for their future jobs, Bridge magazine reports.

Trump shrugged off those anxieties, telling supporters at a town hall in Flint that Michigan’s auto industry would disappear under Harris. However, even the Republican candidate has voiced his support for electric vehicles, sometimes praising them and toning down his criticism of the industry. Trump said its recent support from Tesla owner Elon Musk it’s part of the reason he changed his mind.

Reproductive health has also dominated headlines in Michigan and the presidential race since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down abortion protections. While Michigan legalized ballot access in 2022, the issue continues to resonate with voters across the country.

Harris has been unequivocal in his stance on the issue, promising to sign a national law guaranteeing access. Meanwhile, Trump presented several positions on abortion, at one point proposing free IVF and wavering over Florida’s 6-week abortion ban, then reversing and supporting compliance with the rule.