Tariff Layoffs Hit Battleground States as GOP Voters Defect

Clockmaker Howard Miller closed its Zeeland, Michigan factory after a century in business, laid off nearly 200 workers and sold off its inventory and brand name — a collapse the company's former product designer blames squarely on President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Nelson Vandermeer, 62, lost his job at Howard Miller last year and plans to vote straight Democrat in next month's midterms after decades of supporting Republicans. "So much for bringing jobs back," Vandermeer said.

Trump made tariffs the cornerstone of his economic agenda, promising that higher taxes on imports would trigger a U.S. factory renaissance. That has not happened. The country has added manufacturing jobs so far this year, but the sector employs fewer people than when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, according to the report.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers insisted a factory boom is underway, citing rising manufacturing output and more work in certain nonresidential construction trades. "Factory construction jobs of today mean more manufacturing jobs down the road once those factories come online," she said.

What did the tariffs do to Howard Miller?

Even before the tariffs, Howard Miller struggled as Americans lost their taste for its signature grandfather and mantel clocks. The company had diversified years ago into bar carts, cabinets and consoles. Those products still depended on glass and other parts from abroad, and diversification did not save the business.

"I could still have a job, but now I don't because of tariffs," Vandermeer said. "It was like taking a knife to the back."

How is the backlash hitting battleground races?

Vandermeer lives in Michigan's 4th Congressional District, represented by Republican Bill Huizenga, who is seeking a ninth term on Nov. 3. Before Trump rolled out his broadest tariffs on what the president called "Liberation Day" last year, Huizenga backed the policy. "Is it going to be easy? Not necessarily. Is it the right thing to do? Absolutely it is," he told reporters at the time.

A spokesperson said Huizenga now "sees a potential role for tariffs" while "recognizing the need to address their broader economic effects." His Democratic opponent, state Sen. Sean McCann, has criticized Huizenga for opposing legislation that would rein in tariffs Trump imposed unilaterally.

Similar dynamics are playing out in competitive races in Kansas, Iowa and Ohio, where constituents face factory layoffs, farm foreclosures and higher prices.

In Burlington, Iowa, Tracy Chew, 55, lost her job at backhoe manufacturer Case in April, followed over the next few weeks by her daughter, her husband and her son-in-law. She voted for Trump in 2016, then for Democrats in 2020 and 2024. "I'm furious he isn't doing enough," she said. "Tariffs are not targeting the right companies, the right amount."

Which companies have cut jobs?

The tariff-driven cost squeeze has produced concrete layoffs across the industrial heartland:

• Winnebago Industries, the RV maker, cut 200 jobs last year after the cost of importing aluminum, steel and electronics rose by tens of millions of dollars. CEO Michael Happe called it "a day to day battle."
• Vornado Air, the Wichita, Kansas appliance maker known for its retro fans, laid off more than 70 factory workers in February, blaming higher prices for imported parts. CEO Cole Hoppock said the tariffs "impacted virtually everything."
• Bicycle Corp. of America closed its South Carolina factory last year, citing rising prices for imported parts.
• Post Holdings cut 160 jobs at a pet food plant in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, where the fallout rippled to can maker Trivium Packaging, which trimmed several jobs.

Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier could be next. Trump has threatened to ban its U.S. sales unless it builds all its planes in America. Bombardier says it buys parts from 2,800 companies in 47 states, including Kansas, where it employs more than 1,000 people.

How unpopular is Trump's trade policy?

A September poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of trade negotiations, down from 4 in 10 in March. The Supreme Court ruled against Trump's emergency declaration for the "Liberation Day" tariffs in February, leaving trade unsettled as the administration keeps adjusting with new levies and threats.

Not every displaced worker is switching sides. Koby Bird, who retired from Bicycle Corp. of America's quality-control arm, likes tariffs but faulted Trump's whiplash. "It was all over the place," Bird said. "Businesses couldn't plan." He still plans to back Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said manufacturing woes may not convert into Democratic victories, since some voters may "think the tariffs in the long run will work."

Wendell Young, president of UFCW Local 1776 in Pennsylvania, sees the shift firsthand. "People used to beat me up for not supporting Trump. I haven't heard that in a year," he said. "Some of these people are red Republicans and they are shocked. They expected more jobs."

Heather Kingston, a former Trivium worker, voted for Republican Dan Meuser in Pennsylvania's 9th District last time but has doubts now. "There doesn't seem to be many manufacturing jobs moving into the area," she said. With races in the state's 7th and 8th districts up for grabs, that sentiment could matter on Nov. 3.