Gretchen Whitmer facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer in 2023

49th Governor of Michigan
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2019
Lieutenant	Garlin Gilchrist
Preceded by	Rick Snyder
Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 21, 2021 Serving with Tammy Duckworth, Ken Martin, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Christine Pelosi
Chair	Jaime Harrison
Preceded by	Grace Meng
Prosecuting Attorney of Ingham County
In office July 21, 2016 – December 31, 2016
Preceded by	Stuart Dunnings III
Succeeded by	Carol Siemon
Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate
In office January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2015
Deputy	Steve Bieda
Preceded by	Mike Prusi
Succeeded by	Jim Ananich
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 23rd district
In office March 21, 2006 – January 1, 2015
Preceded by	Virgil Bernero
Succeeded by	Curtis Hertel Jr.
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office January 1, 2003 – March 21, 2006
Preceded by	Michael C. Murphy
Succeeded by	Mark Meadows
Constituency	69th district
In office January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003
Preceded by	Laura Baird
Succeeded by	Judy Emmons
Constituency	70th district
Chair of the East Lansing Transportation Commission
In office 1999–2000

Personal details
Born	Gretchen Esther Whitmer (1971-08-23) August 23, 1971 (age 53) Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Gary Shrewsbury (divorced) Marc Mallory (m. 2011)
Children	2
Education	Michigan State University (BA, JD)
Signature
Nickname	Big Gretch

Gretchen Esther Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician. She has been the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming governor, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. She was also in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015.

Whitmer grew up in Michigan. She earned a bachelor's degree in communication in 1993 from Michigan State University. Later, she received a law degree in 1998. Her political journey began in 2000 when she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. In 2006, she won a special election to the state senate. She served there until 2015 and became the first female Democratic leader in the Senate from 2011 to 2015. For six months in 2016, she worked as the prosecutor for Ingham County. Whitmer was elected governor in 2018. She won against Republican candidate Bill Schuette.

Whitmer sees herself as a progressive leader. As governor, she has focused on improving healthcare and roads. In February 2020, she gave the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's 2020 State of the Union Address. In October 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation stopped a group's plan to kidnap Whitmer. Since January 2021, Whitmer has been one of the vice chairs of the Democratic National Committee. She was reelected as governor in 2022, defeating Republican candidate Tudor Dixon.

Early Life and Education

Gretchen Whitmer was born on August 23, 1971, in Lansing, Michigan. She was the oldest of three children. Her parents, Sharon H. "Sherry" Reisig and Richard Whitmer, were both lawyers. Her father led the state department of commerce under Governor William Milliken. He was also the president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for many years. Whitmer's mother worked as an assistant attorney general.

Her parents divorced when she was ten years old. She and her siblings moved with their mother to Grand Rapids. Her father visited them often from Detroit.

After finishing high school at Forest Hills Central High School, Whitmer went to Michigan State University. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 1993. In 1998, she earned her law degree from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University.

Serving in the Michigan Legislature

House of Representatives

In 2000, Whitmer decided to run for the Michigan House of Representatives. She wanted to represent the 70th district. She won the Democratic primary election. Then, she ran against Republican candidate Bill Hollister.

Her campaign focused on improving education and healthcare. She also wanted to protect the environment. Whitmer won the election with many votes. She was reelected to the 69th House district in 2002 and 2004. She also served as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee.

In 2003, Whitmer proposed a bill to raise taxes on alcohol. This money would help improve fire protection in the state. Then-governor Jennifer Granholm supported this idea. In 2005, Whitmer was named the Most Effective Democrat in the Michigan House.

State Senate

In March 2006, Whitmer won a special election for the Michigan State Senate. She took the place of Virg Bernero, who became mayor of Lansing. She was elected for a full term in November and again in 2010.

In 2011, her fellow Democratic senators chose her to be the Senate Democratic Leader. This made her the first woman to lead a party group in the Senate. Due to term limits, Whitmer could not run for reelection in 2014. She left office in 2015.

Ingham County Prosecutor Role

On May 11, 2016, judges chose Whitmer to serve as the Ingham County Prosecutor. She filled the remaining six months of the term for Stuart Dunnings III.

On June 21, 2016, Whitmer officially took the oath of office. In July 2016, she released a report. It stated that past issues in the office did not affect cases. She said she was confident that any problems left with the former prosecutor. Whitmer's term ended on December 31, 2016.

Becoming Governor

Gubernatorial Elections

2018 Election

Whitmer speaking at a National Guard ceremony in January 2019

On January 3, 2017, Whitmer announced she would run for governor in 2018. On August 7, 2018, she became the Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan. She won in all 83 counties during the Democratic primary election.

Whitmer at a naturalization ceremony in November 2019 in Detroit

In July 2018, some Republican officials said Whitmer supported getting rid of ICE. Whitmer said this was not true. She stated that if elected, she would focus on improving Michigan's basics. These included schools, roads, and water systems. Whitmer's main opponent was Republican Bill Schuette, who was the state attorney general. They had two debates before the election.

Whitmer defeated Schuette in the November 6 election. She won by almost a 10-point difference.

2022 Election

Whitmer was reelected as governor in 2022.

Governor's Time in Office

Whitmer, February 2023

Whitmer sees herself as a progressive Democrat. She believes in working with lawmakers from different political groups.

Her first plan to fix roads involved a gas tax increase. This idea was not popular with many Michigan voters. Her first budget set aside billions of dollars for infrastructure. In 2019, she worked with the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a budget.

Healthcare was a big topic during her election and time in office. As governor, she has focused on women's healthcare and expanding Medicaid.

In May 2020, the Edenville Dam broke. Whitmer asked the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to investigate. Some people worried that the state agency was investigating itself.

After the 2022 Michigan elections, Democrats gained control of the Senate and House. This gave Whitmer more power over her plans.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Whitmer and President Joe Biden tour a Pfizer manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 2021

Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Michigan residents supported her actions.

When Whitmer extended the order in April, some people protested at the Michigan State Capitol. At that time, over 1,900 people in Michigan had died from the virus. A judge upheld the order, saying it protected public health.

In May 2020, a Detroit rapper named Gmac Cash released a song called "Big Gretch." It supported Whitmer and her handling of the pandemic.

On October 2, 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court made a ruling. It said that a state law allowing the governor to keep emergency orders in place without legislative approval was unconstitutional.

In March 2021, Whitmer traveled to Florida to visit her sick father. This trip caused some discussion. In May 2021, Whitmer was seen in a bar with a large group of unmasked people. The restaurant was not following state rules for social distancing. Whitmer apologized for this.

National Recognition and Future Plans

Whitmer at the White House for a discussion on the bipartisan Innovation Act, March 2022

In February 2020, Whitmer was chosen to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union address. This was during President Donald Trump's speech. Michigan was an important state in the 2020 United States presidential election.

In early March, Whitmer supported Joe Biden for president. She became a national co-chair for his campaign.

In 2020, Trump criticized Whitmer in tweets. He called her "the woman in Michigan." Whitmer used this phrase in her speeches and on T-shirts. This helped her gain more national attention. Actress Cecily Strong played Whitmer on Saturday Night Live.

Whitmer was considered as a possible running mate for Biden in 2020. Michigan's role as a key state helped her chances. She was one of four finalists for the position. However, Kamala Harris was chosen. Some reports say Whitmer chose not to be considered. She encouraged Biden to pick a Black woman instead.

Whitmer co-chaired Biden's inauguration committee. In January 2021, Biden nominated her as a vice chair candidate for the Democratic National Committee.

After her 2022 reelection, some thought Whitmer might run for president in 2024. However, Whitmer said she would not run. She planned to serve her full second term as governor. On April 25, 2023, Whitmer was named co-chair of Biden's reelection campaign. In July 2024, after Biden withdrew, she endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. She also said she would not be Harris's running mate.

Kidnapping Plot

On October 8, 2020, a federal indictment was made public. It charged six men with planning to kidnap Whitmer. They also planned to violently overthrow Michigan's government. The FBI found out about the plot in early 2020. This was through communications and an undercover agent. Seven other men were charged with state crimes related to the plot.

After the indictment, Whitmer thanked law enforcement. She called the plotters "sick and depraved men." She also criticized Trump for not condemning far-right groups. In April 2022, two men were found not guilty. In August 2022, two others were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap. In October 2022, three more were found guilty of helping a terrorist act.

Policies and Political Views

Education Initiatives

Whitmer wants to offer full-day universal pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds in Michigan. She ended Michigan's third-grade "read-or-flunk" rule. She believes this rule unfairly punishes students. She wants to help them improve their reading skills instead. She also suggests that all high school students get two years of debt-free higher education. This could be college or training for skilled trades.

Whitmer started the Michigan Reconnect program in 2019. It helps adults aged 25 or older without a college degree. They can get a tuition-free associate degree or professional skills certificate. In 2023, she asked to lower the age to 21. Over 113,000 people have joined this program.

In 2020, Whitmer launched Futures for Frontliners. This program gave tuition-free education to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 120,000 people applied.

In 2022, Whitmer signed a bill to create the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. This program provides $560 million to help students pay for college. It is the state's largest effort to make college more affordable.

Environmental Protection

Whitmer has ordered the closure of major oil pipelines in Michigan. She supports using renewable energy. The Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter has supported her. She also supports developing industrial areas on agricultural lands. Environmental groups like the National Wildlife Federation oppose this. They say protecting natural areas is important for wildlife and fighting climate change. In 2019, Whitmer reorganized government departments. She renamed the Department of Environmental Quality to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Gun Safety Laws

On January 11, 2021, Whitmer called for a ban on all weapons inside the Michigan State Capitol. This was in response to armed protests in April 2020. She has suggested seven steps to prevent school shootings. These include banning bump stocks and giving more resources to school officers. In 2019, Whitmer joined 11 other governors. They called for stricter gun control laws. In 2012, she wrote an open letter about preventing school violence.

Healthcare Access

Whitmer has said she will fight efforts to remove protections for patients with existing health conditions. In the State Senate, she helped expand Medicaid coverage in Michigan. She believes in lowering the cost of prescription drugs. She also wants to get rid of a law that protects drug companies from legal issues.

During her first term, Whitmer expanded healthcare coverage to over one million Michiganders. This was through the Healthy Michigan Medicaid program. She also started the Healthy Moms Healthy Babies program. It aims to reduce infant deaths and address differences in care for mothers and babies.

In 2020, Whitmer signed a bill to end surprise medical bills. In 2022, she signed bills to lower drug prices. These laws require pharmacists to share prices of cheaper generic drugs. They also require drug managers to be licensed and report their pricing.

Immigration Support

In 2021, Whitmer said Michigan was ready to accept Afghan refugee families. They were fleeing their country after the U.S. withdrawal. She praised Michigan's "rich history of multiculturalism." She said the state was ready to help new arrivals settle.

In 2019, Whitmer stopped the sale of a former state prison. The company buying it planned to use it as an immigrant detention center. Whitmer canceled the sale because the company could not promise that families separated by immigration authorities would not be housed there.

Whitmer disagreed with Trump's plan to exclude illegal immigrants from the 2020 United States census. In 2019, she told immigration rights groups that she supported giving undocumented immigrants driver's licenses or government IDs.

Infrastructure Improvements

Whitmer ran for governor with the slogan "fix the roads." As governor, she has secured a lot of money for Michigan's roads and bridges. During her first term, over 16,000 lane miles of roads and 1,200 bridges were repaired. In 2020, Whitmer announced the Rebuilding Michigan program. It provides $3.5 billion for over 120 road projects.

In 2022, Whitmer signed a $5 billion infrastructure deal. It included over $400 million for roads and bridges. She also created the Michigan Infrastructure Office. This office helps coordinate projects and use funding effectively.

A 2022 report found that Michigan's roads were "in their best shape in years." More roads were rated "good" or "fair."

Whitmer has invested over $2 billion in water infrastructure. This includes money to upgrade drinking water systems. It also helps replace lead pipes across the state. Whitmer created the office of the Clean Water Public Advocate in 2019. She has also made sure Michigan follows strict rules for drinking water safety.

LGBT Rights

Whitmer has long supported expanding Michigan's civil rights to include LGBT individuals. The Human Rights Campaign supported her in her 2018 and 2022 campaigns. On March 16, 2023, Whitmer signed a bill to expand the Elliot Larsen Act. This law now protects LGBT Michiganders from discrimination in jobs and housing. This was seen as a big step forward for civil rights.

Tax and Financial Policies

As governor, Whitmer has signed several major tax cuts. In 2021, she signed a law to remove the sales tax on feminine hygiene products. This saved $7 million in taxes. She also signed two tax cuts for small businesses in 2021. In 2023, she signed a $1 billion package of tax cuts. This included removing the retirement tax.

Whitmer has increased Michigan's "rainy-day fund" to a record high of $1.6 billion in 2022. Under her leadership, Michigan paid down nearly $14 billion in state debt. The state went from a projected $3 billion deficit to a $9 billion surplus. In 2021, S&P and Fitch upgraded Michigan's credit rating. This showed the state's good financial management.

Workers' Rights

Whitmer supports labor unions. In March 2023, she signed a law to repeal the state's "right-to-work law" from 2012. This made Michigan the first state in 58 years to do so. Whitmer also signed a law that requires contractors on state projects to pay union-level wages.

Personal Life

Whitmer has two daughters with her first husband, Gary Shrewsbury. They divorced in 2008. In 2011, she married Marc P. Mallory, a dentist. Mallory has three sons from a previous marriage. The couple lives in the Michigan Governor's Mansion in Lansing, Michigan, with their five children. They also own a vacation home in Antrim County. Whitmer's daughters both attended East Lansing High School and the University of Michigan. Her older daughter is openly gay.

Whitmer's sister, Liz Whitmer Gereghty, is a school board trustee in New York. Whitmer was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2023. She has three tattoos.

Images for kids

Whitmer in 2023
Gretchen Whitmer's signature
Whitmer speaking at a National Guard ceremony in January 2019
Whitmer at a naturalization ceremony in November 2019 in Detroit
Whitmer, February 2023
Whitmer and President Joe Biden tour a Pfizer manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 2021
Whitmer at the White House for a discussion on the bipartisan Innovation Act, March 2022