Gretchen Whitmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gretchen Whitmer
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Whitmer in 2023
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| 49th Governor of Michigan | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 |
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| Lieutenant | Garlin Gilchrist |
| Preceded by | Rick Snyder |
| Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office January 21, 2021 – February 1, 2025 Serving with Tammy Duckworth, Ken Martin, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Christine Pelosi
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| Chair | Jaime Harrison |
| Preceded by | Grace Meng |
| Succeeded by | Various |
| Prosecuting Attorney of Ingham County | |
| In office July 21, 2016 – December 31, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Stuart Dunnings III |
| Succeeded by | Carol Siemon |
| Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2015 |
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| Deputy | Steve Bieda |
| Preceded by | Mike Prusi |
| Succeeded by | Jim Ananich |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 23rd district |
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| In office March 21, 2006 – January 1, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Virgil Bernero |
| Succeeded by | Curtis Hertel Jr. |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – March 21, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Mark Meadows |
| Constituency | 69th district |
| In office January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Laura Baird |
| Succeeded by | Judy Emmons |
| Constituency | 70th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gretchen Esther Whitmer
August 23, 1971 Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| 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 also served in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015.
Whitmer grew up in Michigan. She earned a bachelor's degree in communication in 1993. Later, she received a law degree in 1998, both from Michigan State University. Her political journey started 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. From 2011 to 2015, she was the first female Democratic leader in the Senate. In 2013, Whitmer shared a personal experience during a debate. This brought her national attention. For six months in 2016, she worked as a 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 healthcare and improving roads. In February 2020, she gave the Democratic response to then-President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address. In October 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation stopped a plot against Whitmer. From January 2021 to February 2025, Whitmer was a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. She was reelected as governor in 2022. She defeated Republican candidate Tudor Dixon.
Contents
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.
Michigan Legislature
Serving in the House of Representatives
In 2000, Whitmer ran for the Michigan House of Representatives. She ran for the 70th district. She won the Democratic primary. Then she ran against Republican Bill Hollister. Her campaign focused on education, healthcare, and protecting the environment. Whitmer won the election. She received 17,409 votes. She was reelected in 2002 and 2004. She served as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee.
In 2003, Whitmer proposed a bill. It would raise taxes on alcohol. It would also improve fire protection in the state. Then-Governor Jennifer Granholm supported this idea. In 2005, Whitmer was voted the Most Effective Democrat in the Michigan House.
Serving in the Senate
In March 2006, Whitmer won a special election. She joined the Michigan State Senate. She replaced Virgil Bernero, who became mayor of Lansing. She was elected for a full term in November. She was reelected in 2010. In 2011, her Democratic colleagues chose her to be the Senate Democratic Leader. She was 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.
In 2013, Whitmer gained national attention. She shared a difficult personal experience during a debate. She spoke about it while discussing healthcare decisions related to pregnancy. She argued that people should have choices in such situations.
Ingham County Prosecutor
On May 11, 2016, judges chose Whitmer to serve as Ingham County Prosecutor. She filled the remaining six months of the term. The previous prosecutor, Stuart Dunnings III, had resigned. On June 21, 2016, Whitmer took the oath of office. She said her main goals were to check if anyone else knew about past issues. She also wanted to improve how the office handled cases of violence.
In July 2016, Whitmer released a report. It stated that employees were never asked to do anything wrong. She felt confident that any problems left with the former prosecutor. Whitmer's term ended on December 31, 2016.
Governorship
Elections
2018 Election
On January 3, 2017, Whitmer announced she would run for governor. In August 2018, she became the Democratic nominee. She won 52% of the vote. She defeated Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar.
During her 2018 campaign, Whitmer promised to improve Michigan's "fundamentals." She focused on schools, roads, and water systems. Her main opponent was Republican Bill Schuette. They debated twice. Whitmer won the election on November 6 by a large margin.
2022 Election
Whitmer was reelected for a second term in 2022. She defeated Republican candidate Tudor Dixon. She won by almost 11 points. This was a larger win than many expected. She won 18 counties. She also increased her support in important areas like Oakland and Macomb Counties.
Time as Governor
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Whitmer describes herself as a progressive Democrat. She believes in working with lawmakers from different political parties. ..... This referred to Michigan's aging infrastructure. Her first plan to pay for road repairs involved a gas tax increase. Many voters did not support this plan. Democratic lawmakers also did not widely support it.
Whitmer's first budget set aside billions for infrastructure. In 2019, she worked with the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a budget. She made several compromises.
Healthcare was a big topic during her time in office. As governor, she has focused on women's healthcare. She also worked on expanding Medicaid, which helps people with healthcare costs.
In May 2020, the Edenville Dam broke. Whitmer ordered an investigation. This investigation was criticized by some. They felt the state agency should not investigate itself. The United States House of Representatives also launched an inquiry.
After the 2022 elections, Democrats gained control of the Michigan Senate and House. This gave Whitmer more power to pass her laws. In January 2023, she gave her State of the State address. She called for several changes. These included ending the retirement tax and increasing a tax credit. She also proposed universal pre-kindergarten. Other goals included investing in clean energy and stricter gun laws. She also wanted to add protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
National Profile and Future
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In February 2020, Whitmer was chosen to give the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. Michigan is an important swing state in elections. Many thought choosing Whitmer would help Democrats win the state.
In early March 2020, Whitmer supported Joe Biden for president. She joined his campaign as a national co-chair.
During the pandemic, Trump criticized Whitmer on social media. She then used the phrase "that woman in Michigan" in her speeches. This helped her gain more national attention. Actress Cecily Strong played Whitmer on Saturday Night Live.
Biden's team considered Whitmer as a possible running mate in 2020. Biden confirmed she was on his shortlist. Michigan's importance as a swing state boosted her chances. She was one of four finalists for the position. However, Kamala Harris was chosen. Some reports say Whitmer removed herself from consideration. She encouraged Biden to choose a Black woman instead. This consideration still raised her national profile.
In her speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Whitmer praised Biden. She spoke about his work helping Michigan's auto industry. She also criticized Trump's handling of the pandemic. Whitmer was considered for a position in Biden's cabinet. On January 9, 2021, she said she was not interested in leaving her role as governor.
Whitmer co-chaired Biden's inauguration committee. In January 2021, Biden nominated her as a vice chair for the Democratic National Committee. The committee elected her.
After her 2022 reelection, some thought Whitmer might run for president in 2024. However, Whitmer repeatedly 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 June, she started the Fight Like Hell PAC. This group aims to support Democrats running for federal office. In December, the PAC supported its first candidates. This led to more talk about a presidential bid. In March 2024, Whitmer hinted at running for president in 2028. After Biden withdrew his candidacy in July 2024, she announced she would not seek the Democratic nomination. She endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign. She also said she would not be Harris's running mate.
Kidnapping Plot
On October 8, 2020, a federal indictment was unsealed. It charged six men with plotting to kidnap Whitmer. They also planned to violently overthrow Michigan's government. The FBI learned 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. Facebook cooperated with the investigation. The group used a private Facebook group to discuss the plot.
After the indictment, Whitmer thanked law enforcement. She called the plotters "sick and depraved men." She also criticized Trump for not condemning such groups. In April 2022, two men were found not guilty. In August 2022, two others were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap. In October 2022, three more were convicted of helping a terrorist act. Two others pleaded guilty.
Policies and Political Positions
Whitmer describes herself as a progressive Democrat. She believes in working with lawmakers from different political parties.
Healthcare Decisions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some groups criticized Whitmer. They were concerned about her allowing certain healthcare procedures to continue.
In September 2021, Whitmer worked to repeal an old law. This 90-year-old law banned certain healthcare decisions related to pregnancy in Michigan. She wanted to protect these rights in case a national ruling changed. After the Supreme Court's decision in 2022, it was unclear if Michigan's 1931 law was still active. In April 2023, Whitmer signed a bill repealing the 1931 ban. This ensured access to healthcare choices in Michigan.
Whitmer strongly supported a 2022 ballot proposal. This proposal changed the Michigan Constitution. It added the right to "reproductive freedom." This means the right to make decisions about all matters related to pregnancy. ..... The proposal passed by a large margin in the 2022 election. Healthcare decisions related to pregnancy are legal at all stages in Michigan.
Business Incentives
Whitmer supports using state incentives to attract businesses to Michigan. On December 20, 2021, she signed a bill. This bill created a $1 billion fund. It helps attract manufacturers to the state.
Whitmer strongly supports a large industrial site in Marshall, Michigan. A major electric vehicle battery factory is planned there. She approved $1.8 billion in state incentives for the site.
Education
Whitmer wants to offer full-day universal pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds. She ended Michigan's third-grade "read-or-flunk" policy. She believes this policy unfairly punishes students. She wants to improve their reading skills instead. She also proposes 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. This program helps adults without a college degree. It allows them to enroll tuition-free in associate degree or skills programs. This helps meet her goal of having 60% of working-age adults with a skill certificate or degree by 2030. In 2023, she called for lowering the age limit to 21. As of 2023, over 113,000 people had joined the program.
In 2020, Whitmer launched Futures for Frontliners. This program gave free tuition to essential workers during the pandemic. By 2021, over 120,000 people had applied.
In 2022, Whitmer signed a bill creating the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. This program provides $560 million for college scholarships. It is the state's largest effort to make college more affordable. It is expected to help many students attend community college or universities.
Environment
Whitmer has ordered the closure of major oil pipelines in Michigan. She supports projects that use renewable energy. The Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter has supported her.
In February 2019, Whitmer reorganized some state departments. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality became the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Gun Laws
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In January 2021, Whitmer called for a ban on all weapons inside the Michigan State Capitol. This was in response to armed protestors in April 2020. She has also called for bans on certain gun accessories. She wants more resources for school safety officers. In 2019, Whitmer joined 11 other governors. They called for "common sense gun legislation." In 2012, she wrote an open letter. It was about preventing school violence.
After Democrats won a majority in the state legislature in 2023, they passed new gun safety laws. Whitmer strongly supported these six bills. They were passed after school shootings in 2021 and 2023. She signed them into law in April 2023. The laws include universal background checks for gun sales. They also require safe storage of firearms. Another law makes it a crime to not safely store a firearm. In May 2023, Whitmer also signed a "red flag law." This law allows temporary removal of guns from people who might be a danger. This law took effect in February 2024.
Health Care
Whitmer has said she would protect patients with existing health conditions. In the State Senate, she helped expand Medicaid coverage. This was under the Affordable Care Act. She has focused on lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
During her first term, Whitmer expanded healthcare coverage. Over one million Michiganders gained coverage through Healthy Michigan. She also started the Healthy Moms Healthy Babies program. This program helps reduce infant deaths. It also addresses differences in care for mothers and babies. She secured expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage. This helps up to 35,000 mothers get health services for a year after birth.
Whitmer signed a bill in 2020 to end "surprise medical billing." This law requires providers to negotiate bills with insurance companies. In 2022, she signed bills to reduce prescription drug prices. These laws require pharmacists to share prices of cheaper generic drugs. They also require pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed.
Immigration
In 2021, Whitmer said Michigan was ready to accept Afghan refugee families. These families were fleeing their country. 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. Her spokesperson said she stopped the sale because the company could not promise that families would not be separated there.
Whitmer disagreed with Trump's plan to exclude some immigrants from the 2020 census. In 2019, she told immigration groups she supported giving government IDs to undocumented immigrants.
Infrastructure
..... As governor, she secured a lot of money for Michigan's roads and bridges. During her first term, over 16,000 miles of roads and 1,200 bridges were repaired. In 2020, Whitmer announced the Rebuilding Michigan program. This program provides $3.5 billion for over 120 road projects. It focuses on major roads with high traffic. In 2022, Whitmer signed a $5 billion infrastructure deal. This included money for roads and bridges. She also created the Michigan Infrastructure Office. This office helps coordinate infrastructure spending.
A 2022 report found Michigan's roads were "in their best shape in years." More roads were rated "good" or "fair." Fewer were in "poor" condition. The 2023 report showed roads had not gotten much worse.
Whitmer has invested over $2 billion in water infrastructure. She secured $1.7 billion for water projects in 2022. This included money to upgrade drinking water systems. It also funded replacing lead pipes. Whitmer created the Clean Water Public Advocate office in 2019. She has enforced strict standards for drinking water.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Whitmer has long supported expanding Michigan's civil rights law. She wants it to include protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. The Human Rights Campaign supported her in her 2018 and 2022 campaigns.
In March 2023, Whitmer signed a law. It expanded the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. This law now protects against discrimination in jobs and housing. It covers discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Many Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to pass this bill.
Tax and Money Policy
As governor, Whitmer has signed several large tax cuts. In 2021, she signed a law to remove sales tax from feminine hygiene products. This saved consumers about $7 million. Whitmer also signed two tax cuts for small businesses in 2021. One expanded property tax exemptions. The other provided tax savings for small businesses. In 2023, she signed a $1 billion tax cut package. This law ended the retirement tax. It also increased the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit. It set aside money from corporate taxes for business incentives. In 2022, Michigan had one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation.
Whitmer increased Michigan's "rainy-day fund" to a record high of $1.6 billion in 2022. This was due to large deposits in 2021 and 2022. Under Whitmer, Michigan paid down almost $14 billion in state debt. The state went from a projected $3 billion deficit to a $9 billion surplus. Michigan became a "standout for investors." Its bond returns were better than neighboring states. In 2021, S&P and Fitch upgraded Michigan's rating. They noted the state's good financial management. In 2022, Fitch upgraded Michigan's credit rating again. They cited strong finances and economic growth.
Voting Rights and Election Security
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In 2020, Whitmer signed an order to expand access to mail-in voting. In November 2023, she signed several election-related bills. These laws expand automatic voter registration. They also make it a crime to threaten poll workers. The laws clarify that election boards must certify results. This was in response to efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. The 2024 bills also include a law to regulate political misinformation. It requires disclaimers on political ads made with artificial intelligence.
Workers' Rights
Whitmer supports labor unions. In March 2023, she signed a law repealing the state's 2012 "right-to-work law." Michigan was the first state in 58 years to repeal such a law. Whitmer also signed a law bringing back "prevailing wage." This means contractors on state projects must pay union-level wages.
Personal Life
In 2001, Whitmer married Gary Shrewsbury, a photographer. They had two daughters. Her first child was born in 2002. Shortly after, her mother passed away. Whitmer later said she experienced many big life changes at once. She and Shrewsbury divorced in 2008. However, they remain close. Shrewsbury even worked as a photographer for her 2018 campaign. Their daughters both graduated from the University of Michigan. Her oldest daughter is openly gay.
In 2011, Whitmer married Marc P. Mallory, a dentist. He has three sons from a previous marriage. Whitmer and Mallory live in the Michigan Governor's Mansion in Lansing, Michigan. They also own a vacation cottage in Antrim County.
Whitmer's sister, Liz Whitmer Gereghty, is a school board trustee in New York. Gereghty briefly ran for Congress in 2024.
Whitmer was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2023. She has three tattoos.
Images for kids
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Whitmer in 2023
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Gretchen Whitmer's signature
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Whitmer arriving at the Capitol dais for her inauguration ceremony as new governor, January 2019
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Whitmer, February 2023
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Whitmer and President Joe Biden tour a Pfizer manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 2021.
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Whitmer at the White House for a roundtable discussion on the bipartisan Innovation Act, March 2022
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Whitmer, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Representative Hillary Scholten at a roundtable discussion in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the topic of reproductive rights for women, February 2024
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Whitmer discusses Operation Safe Communities a program to remove illegal guns from neighborhoods, May 2023.
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Whitmer speaking on federal infrastructure investment for Michigan in Bay City, November 2022
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Whitmer signs voter rights protection bill, November 2023.
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See also
In Spanish: Gretchen Whitmer para niños
