Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer is an American politician and attorney serving as the 49th Governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, where she was the Senate Minority Leader. Her tenure as governor has been marked by significant infrastructure initiatives, responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocacy for reproductive rights.

Early life and education

Gretchen Esther Whitmer was born in Lansing, Michigan, to parents involved in public service; her father, Richard Whitmer, served as director of the Michigan Department of Commerce under Governor William Milliken, and her mother, Sharon, was an assistant attorney general. She attended Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids before enrolling at Michigan State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications. She subsequently obtained her Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law, preparing for a career that blended law and public policy.

Early career

After law school, Whitmer worked as an attorney in private practice and as a prosecutor in Ingham County. Her political career began in 2000 when she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 69th district. In 2006, she won a seat in the Michigan Senate for the 23rd district, where she served for eight years. During her legislative tenure, she focused on issues such as health care reform, economic development, and education funding, eventually rising to become the Senate Minority Leader, a role in which she championed the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion in the state.

Governor of Michigan

Elected in the 2018 election by defeating Republican nominee Bill Schuette, Whitmer took office in January 2019. Her administration quickly launched the "Fix the Damn Roads" campaign, a major infrastructure proposal aimed at repairing the state's highways and bridges. She faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, issuing executive orders for lockdowns and mask mandates that drew both praise and protests, including an armed demonstration at the Michigan State Capitol. In 2020, federal authorities thwarted a domestic terrorism plot by members of the Wolverine Watchmen to kidnap her. She was re-elected decisively in the 2022 election, defeating Tudor Dixon.

Political positions

Whitmer is a proponent of progressive policies, strongly supporting reproductive rights and LGBT rights; she has worked to repeal Michigan's 1931 abortion ban and expand protections under the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act. On economic issues, she advocates for increasing the minimum wage, investing in clean energy, and implementing the Good Jobs for Michigan program. She signed legislation repealing the state's right-to-work law and has been a vocal supporter of gun control measures, including red flag laws. Her stance on education includes increased funding for public schools and universal pre-kindergarten.

Personal life

Whitmer was first married to Gary Shrewsbury, with whom she has two children; the couple divorced in 2006. She married dentist Marc Mallory in 2011. An avid sports fan, she is a supporter of the Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Lions, and Detroit Tigers. She has spoken openly about her personal experiences, including being a survivor of sexual assault, which informed her advocacy for the Larry Nassar victims. In 2023, she published a memoir, *True Gretch*.

Category:Governors of Michigan Category:Michigan Democrats Category:Michigan State University alumni