©  AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana/Evan Vucci

The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike at three factories is the latest flashpoint between President Biden‘s and former President Trump‘s campaigns. Trump criticized the Biden administration’s policies earlier this week, with Biden’s campaign responding in kind Friday.

“Donald Trump will say literally anything to distract from his long record of breaking promises and failing America’s workers. Under Trump, autoworkers shuttered their doors and sent American jobs overseas,” Ammar Moussa, spokesperson for Biden-Harris 2024, said in a statement first shared with The Hill.

Trump recently criticized the administration’s policies promoting electric vehicles (EVs). He said Wednesday, “Stand strong against Biden’s vicious attack on American labor and American auto workers. … And if you want more jobs, higher wages and soaring pensions, vote for President Trump and have your leaders endorse me.” See other comments on the strike here.

Background:

• The UAW has not endorsed Biden, citing concerns in May over the administration’s focus on EVs — while also saying it’s not endorsing Trump. 
  
  
• The Hill’s Alex Gangitano breaks down the strike: “Negotiations between the UAW and Ford, Stellantis and General Motors have been focused on pay increases, pensions and career security, while workers also have concerns about electric vehicles (EVs) and how a shift toward them could affect their jobs and pay.”
  
  
• Biden said Friday the transition should be “fair and a win-win for auto workers and auto companies.” He also said automakers hadn’t offered workers enough in contract negotiations.
  
  

The UAW holds a rally in Detroit this evening, which Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is slated to attend.

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Amee LaTour, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

• U.S. industrial production has beaten expectations every month since April. The Hill’s Tobias Burns has more on the latest Federal Reserve report.
  
  

• President Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House next Thursday.
  
  

• The State Department announced sanctions on 25 Iranian individuals, three state-backed media outlets and one Iranian internet research firm ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini‘s death. Amini died while in police custody after being arrested for wearing a hijab loosely.

©  Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool

A jury of state senators in Texas began deliberations on Friday after eight days of testimony in Attorney General Ken Paxton‘s (R) impeachment trial. It’s unclear how long deliberations will take. 

A conviction on any of the 16 articles of impeachment, which include allegations of corruption, bribery and the misuse of powers, would permanently remove Paxton from office. Paxton pleaded not guilty.

Check out 5 things to know about the trial here.

Welcome to a new section from The Hill! Each week we’ll highlight an interesting poll on the campaign trail or data set out of Washington.

Former President Trump is the clear frontrunner in national GOP presidential primary polling. We wondered: What are the numbers like in other candidates’ home states?

©  Source: Monmouth University-Washington Post Poll; Flourish chart

Former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are seeing their best numbers in South Carolina, where each has been elected to office. Still, each is polling under 20 percent there.

A new Monmouth University-Washington Post poll from the state found Trump with 46 percent, Haley at 18 percent and Scott with 10 percent. (Margin of error +/- 4.6 percentage points.)

Over in Florida, a Victory Insights poll from August found Gov. Ron DeSantis with 23 percent to Trump’s 59 percent, with all other included candidates below 5 percent. (Maximum margin of error +/- 4.3 percentage points.)

The most interesting numbers, though, are in the

head-to-head matchup trendline. 

©  The Hill illustration, Madeline Monroe

Shortly after DeSantis’s reelection in November, he led Trump in Florida. By April, Trump overtook DeSantis. After DeSantis officially announced his bid in May, the two were roughly tied. In August, Trump led by 27 points. 😵

For comparison’s sake:

• In averages of national polls from Real Clear Politics and FiveThirtyEight, Trump comes in over 50 percent. DeSantis is the only other candidate averaging in double digits (under 15 percent).
  
  
• Vivek Ramaswamy, Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence are the only others averaging between 5 and 10 percent.
  
  

The first GOP nominating contest is four months away in Iowa, and polling from states is currently limited. Stay tuned.

More campaign coverage:

Both former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are speaking at religious group summits in Washington, D.C., on Friday. 

Trump is headlining the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee’s leadership summit at 7 p.m. EST this evening, with DeSantis delivering remarks earlier today.

The two are also set to speak at the Family Research Council’s Pray, Vote, Stand Summit. Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is on the schedule tonight, as well, while former Vice President Mike Pence had a spot this afternoon.

©  The Hill/Greg Nash

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) confirmed with The Hill that the panel plans to mark up a 10-year budget proposal next Wednesday.

“The plan won’t be signed into law,” The Hill’s Aris Folley explained, “but it can provide a glimpse into the party’s thinking on how the government should be funded over the long term.”

President Biden granted a disaster declaration for Maine on Friday as the state and other parts of New England brace for storm effects from Hurricane Lee.

With Sen. Mitt Romney (R) retiring after his current term, which Utah Republicans will run next year for a chance to succeed him?

From The Hill’s Julia Mueller: “Utah GOP Chairman Robert Axson told The Hill that roughly 30 people have expressed interest over the last few months in running for Romney’s seat. Of those, he estimated a dozen are ‘seriously considering right now.'” Read more here.

“Climate lawsuits don’t belong in state courts” — Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association. (Read here)

“Food aid lessons learned during COVID can revolutionize the farm bill” — Poonam Gupta, a research associate at the Urban Institute’s Income and Benefits Policy Center. (Read here)

12 days until the next GOP presidential primary debate.

15 days until the government funding deadline.

Saturday 6:30 p.m. ET: Several GOP presidential candidates speak at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Annual Fall Banquet.

Sunday 9 a.m. ET: NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker” airs a pre-recorded interview with former President Trump.

Sunday sundown: Rosh Hashanah ends.

You’re all caught up! Stay with TheHill.com for the latest and recommend this newsletter to others: TheHill.com/Evening. See you next week!