Ford's PCs are focused on Windsor-Essex this election. Here's why

Windsor-Essex has become a battleground in the lead-up to the June 2 Ontario election as the Progressive Conservatives try to capture several ridings traditionally held by the Liberals and most recently the New Democrats.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was in the region Thursday with local candidates.

"The people of Windsor know the New Democrats always fight for them," said Horwath in an interview at a campaign stop.

But there's evidence the NDP's hold on the area could be slipping, possibly due in part to several high-profile auto announcements made by Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just before the campaign. The region could also be in play because two NDP incumbents decided not to seek another term in office. 

In addition to Horwath, Ford has made stops in the area this week. He's scheduled to make an announcement in Windsor Friday. 

Meanwhile, one of Horwath's stops is Essex. The NDP's Taras Natyshak had represented the riding since 2011 and announced late last year he wouldn't run again. 

In 2013, Windsor city councillor Percy Hatfield won Windsor-Tecumseh in a byelection for the New Democrats, then won in the provincial election the following year. He's also not running this time.

So far, polling suggests the PCs have a big lead in the southwest, including in Essex, according to CBC's Poll Tracker. 

The biggest announcement for the region came in March, when Trudeau and Ford unveiled a $4.9-billion electric vehicle battery plant to be built in Windsor that would create 2,500 jobs and even more spin-off employment.

At the time, Ford said the plant was "game changing."

"[It] will help guarantee that Ontario is at the forefront of electric vehicle revolution," he said. 

"That's really going to push this region forward," said Rakesh Naidu, president and CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

"There is a lot of positive news and optimism in the air."

Ford and Trudeau made yet another stop in Windsor on May 2, just days before the campaign started, announcing Stellantis plants in Windsor and Brampton would get upgraded to support the company's push to make EV batteries and vehicles.