The ongoing debate between Michigan Republicans and Democrats centers on a proposed agreement with a Chinese electric vehicle company in a crucial House race.

The 7th Congressional District race in Michigan is receiving national attention due to Republicans' efforts to link their Democratic opponent to a contentious agreement with a Chinese Communist Party-backed enterprise.

Michigan Republicans are urging former Democratic State Senator Curtis Hertel, who is running for Congress in Michigan's 7th District, to disclose information about an NDA he signed to obtain details on a plan to use taxpayer funds to build an electric vehicle battery plant in west Michigan owned by a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

In October 2022, Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a plant that would receive millions in incentives as part of a deal with Michigan lawmakers and Green Charter Township, promising to bring over 2,000 jobs to the area.

The project faced opposition from local voters due to Gotion Inc.'s ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

In the autumn, five township board members were removed from office by local voters due to their backing of the project, while the remaining two members resigned.

The controversy surrounding the NDA with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has now extended to the race for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, which is a toss-up House race in the state. This is due to Hertel, a lawmaker from both parties, being one of the signatories to the NDA that allowed them to discuss and negotiate the details of the proposed plans for the plant.

Elissa Slotkin, a Democratic representative from Michigan's 7th District, who is leaving her seat to run for U.S. Senate, has criticized the Gotion deal, adding to the growing pressure on Hertel to do the same.

"Slotkin stated at a campaign event earlier this month that she does not support moving forward on any project or sale of farmland to a Chinese entity until there is a national security vetting. She emphasized the importance of considering both economic and national security implications when dealing with Chinese-affiliated companies."

Mike Marinella, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson, stated that Hertel must reveal whether he concurs with Elissa Slotkin and if he regrets betraying Michigan taxpayers by signing the NDA with the CCP.

The opposition to the Gotion plant has attracted attention in the presidential race, with former President Donald Trump expressing his opposition on Truth social last month, stating that he is "100% OPPOSED" to the plant and that it would give the Chinese Communist Party control over Michiganders.

During a campaign stop in Michigan last week, Ohio Sen. JD Vance brought up the controversy surrounding Trump's running mate.

"Vance stated in Michigan that the key is to stop outsourcing manufacturing to China, whether it's done domestically or abroad. The goal is to establish an American manufacturing industry and a thriving middle class. In order to achieve these objectives, it is essential to prioritize the interests of Americans and American businesses."

The focus of Michigan Republicans' questions about Hertel's involvement in the project has been on his receipt of funds from a PAC linked to the law office of Warner Norcross + Judd, a firm acting as a foreign agent to represent Gotion.

In September 2020, a Planet Chronicle report stated that the company's PAC contributed $2,400 to the state campaign for Hertel, who represented Michigan's 23rd State Senate district from 2015 until January.

Tom Barrett, a former Republican State Sen. and Hertel's opponent in the race for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, did not sign an NDA related to the project. Barrett has used the controversy to argue that Hertel should explain his involvement with the project to the public.

"Gotion, a CCP-backed company, received $175 million of Mid-Michigan's tax dollars due to a secret NDA signed by 22-year career politician Curtis Hertel. This should disqualify him from Congress, according to Barrett, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital."

Sam Kwait-Spitzer, the communications director for the Hertel campaign, rejected the accusations made by Republicans as "unfounded."

Gotion did not sign an NDA with Curtis, and Tom Barrett is attempting to conceal his history of opposing 5,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs in Mid-Michigan while surrendering the future of the auto industry to China.