Nearly 1,400 workers were laid off at the former Navistar truck plant in southwestern Ohio just days before a Trump rally, erasing about a year of job growth in the greater Dayton area. Affected employees say the layoffs and rising living costs have pushed some former Trump voters toward Democratic canvassing. The plant is being sold to Roshel, which says it plans to rehire and expand the workforce over time. The episode has heightened political attention in Ohio, where a competitive Senate race could influence control of the chamber.
Nearly 1,400 Jobs Cut At Former Navistar Plant Days Before Trump Rally — Political Stakes Rise In Ohio
UAW Local 402 member Kyle Bos, right, has beer with Hal "Tank" Dunithan, left, and fellow UAW Local 402 members at Fricker's restaurant and bar in Springfield, Ohio, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, on old Navistar's last day at its Springfield plant. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON — Nearly 1,400 workers at the former Navistar truck factory in southwestern Ohio were laid off just days before a planned rally by Donald Trump, wiping out roughly a year of job growth in the greater Dayton area and intensifying political debate in the state.
An American flag is posted on the register at Fricker's restaurant and bar in Springfield, Ohio, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, as UAW Local 402 members have a drink on old Navistar's last day at its Springfield plant. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Layoffs Hit Families And Community
Kyle Bos, 30, who has two daughters and is expecting a third, described how the layoffs and rising prices are reshaping family life. "Something has to change politically in this country," said Bos, a member of the United Auto Workers who describes himself as a centrist. He said the job loss and inflation have pushed him to campaign for Democrats in the final weeks before the election.
A UAW sign is posted outside old Navistar's plant in Springfield, Ohio, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Others affected voiced similar concerns. Marianne Donnelly, a forklift operator at the plant, said overtime work had been scarce and take-home pay remained tight. Many employees said they expect the new owner, Roshel — a Canadian maker of armored vehicles that is buying the facility — to rehire workers within six to 12 months and to expand hiring over time.
UAW Local 402 members, Brad Cloud, left, and Marianne Donnelly, right, embrace at the union hall, in Springfield, Ohio, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, old Navistar last day at its Springfield plant. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Political And Economic Context
The layoffs came three days before a scheduled rally by former President Trump in the Dayton area, and they have become part of a larger conversation about the economy, manufacturing and trade. The Ohio Senate contest — featuring Republican Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown — is being watched nationally and could influence control of the chamber.
Chris Blizard, president of UAW Local 402, center, speaks during a UAW Local 402 board meeting at the union hall in Springfield, Ohio, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, old Navistar's last day at its Springfield plant. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
"All over the country, they're building factories, plants, manufacturing's coming back," Trump said while promoting a series of rallies. "The only thing we're doing badly at is public relations."
Local officials and business leaders offered mixed assessments. The White House has pointed to recent investments in Ohio by aerospace and automotive firms as evidence of economic momentum. Locally, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has drawn companies such as Joby Aviation, Electra and Sierra Nevada Corporation to the region.
From Factory Losses To New Investment
Dayton has experienced long-term manufacturing decline: residents and labor leaders note that roughly half of the area's factory jobs disappeared since 1990 amid globalization and changes in trade. That decline contributed to social challenges in the 1990s and 2000s, which shaped local political careers, including that of Phil Plummer, the Montgomery County Republican chairman.
At the former Navistar site, the previous owner chose to sell rather than sustain production. Roshel has said it is "working with everyone involved not only to protect the current workforce, but to more than double it over the coming years through a phased process." Workers and community leaders say timelines and details will be critical for families relying on steady paychecks.
On The Ground
Canvassers reported that the layoffs made it easier to persuade some voters to consider Democratic candidates this cycle. Morgan Hughes and JoJo Burkhard, who were knocking on doors in the Dayton suburb of Kettering, said many residents they spoke with were worried about job security and rising costs.
The layoffs underline how local economic shocks can ripple into national politics as voters weigh immediate financial concerns alongside broader issues such as inflation and international developments.
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