Why Pratt’s Ohio workers are swinging behind Donald Trump
The state is a test of blue-collar support for Trump and J.D. Vance, who grew up there. In the town that’s home to Anthony Pratt’s paper mill, voters are already decided.
Donald Trump, Anthony Pratt and then-prime minister Scott Morrison at the opening of Pratt Industries’ recycling and paper plant in Wapakoneta, Ohio in 2019. Alex Ellinghausen
Outside billionaire Anthony Pratt’s paper mill in the Midwest state of Ohio, workers say there’s a simple reason they are voting for Donald Trump and his home-grown running mate J.D. Vance at the US election: they know how to make money.
The paper and recycling plant – opened by then-president Trump, then-prime minister Scott Morrison and Pratt five years ago to the sounds of ACDC – was welcomed by locals. The mill provided 1500 construction and 230 permanent jobs and was hailed as an example of company tax cuts drawing foreign investment.
Matthew CranstonUnited States correspondentMatthew Cranston was The Australian Financial Review’s United States correspondent. Connect with Matthew on Twitter. Email Matthew at mcranston@afr.com
