Moroun cash ties Michigan GOP hopefuls to Trump's Gordie Howe bridge standoff [View all]

The big names in Michigan’s Republican 2026 must-watch election field each received large political contributions through the years from the family that operates the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

That now draws several GOP candidates for office this year into the same scrutiny facing President Donald Trump after he threatened on Monday the opening of the Ambassador Bridge’s main competitor, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is owned jointly by Canada and the State of Michigan.

That includes those who were supportive of the president’s threats — U.S. Rep. John James, who is running for governor, former Congressman Mike Rogers, who is running for the U.S. Senate, and state House Speaker Matt Hall, who is up for reelection this year. Those who remained silent about the situation, including U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga and Tom Barrett, both of whom are also seeking reelection, and gubernatorial candidates Mike Cox, Aric Nesbitt and Tom Leonard, who are all running on the Republican side for governor along with James.

Trump on Monday said that he would prevent the bridge from opening soon if Canada didn’t meet his demands on reciprocal tariffs and better trade agreements for the U.S. after the president’s punitive tariffs led Canada to seek other trade partners, particularly America’s chief economic adversary, China.




https://michiganadvance.com/2026/02/11/moroun-cash-ties-michigan-gop-hopefuls-to-trumps-gordie-howe-bridge-standoff/