Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Could Be a Top Pick for 2024
Gretchen Whitmer has become one of the most-talked-about politicians in politics since her fiery Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address.
She holds both positions of State Senator and Prosecutor with great distinction, yet her most cherished title remains that of mom. This woman does not fear being silenced.
She’s a lifelong Michigander
Gretchen Whitmer has dedicated her entire life to making Michigan a better state for all its residents. Born and raised in East Lansing, Gretchen attended Michigan State University twice (for both her bachelor’s and law degrees) before practicing as a lawyer before serving in the legislature as its first female Senate Democratic leader – making history along the way!
Gretchen Whitmer, as governor, has taken on large issues and ensured all Michiganders have access to quality education and a pathway towards employment. She closed major oil pipelines and signed gun violence prevention bills after a school shooting occurred, and has shown strong support for reproductive rights by voting to overturn Michigan’s ban on abortion.
Gretchen Whitmer has made an enduring commitment to public service, working to ensure everyone can access a quality education and an adequate income. Additionally, she has helped provide funding for infrastructure improvements while simultaneously lowering car insurance rates and supporting women’s health by creating a domestic violence unit within her prosecutor’s office.
Gretchen Whitmer is known for her ability to bring people together and bridge gaps between parties, an ability that was evident during her term as governor where she collaborated closely with Republican-dominated legislature in getting things done for Michigan’s families.
She’s a strong leader
Gretchen Whitmer may not be running for president this year, but experts predict she could emerge as one of the leading Democratic contenders come 2024. The Michigan governor is considered a progressive who has focused her first year as governor on healthcare and infrastructure – she even gave the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address! In addition to these accomplishments, she is an adept fundraiser and recently established her own political action committee dedicated to supporting Democratic House and Senate candidates nationwide.
At first, Lansing Republicans tried to use Whitmer’s rising profile against her; but the Democrat outwitted her progressive rivals and demonstrated how her ideas would benefit voters across Michigan – her campaign slogan being: “Fix the Damn Roads”. Furthermore, she attracted suburban moderate voters who had abandoned Republican support and won decisively.
Gretchen Whitmer demonstrated her leadership abilities after the Parkland shooting by declaring it over and pushing through legislation that passed both chambers of legislature, to which all her opponents expressed gratitude for. Whitmer’s performance earned praise even from opponents.
Whitmer will use her governorship as an opportunity to showcase her leadership abilities on Friday morning when she hosts a public forum at Birmingham’s Townsend Hotel; tickets sold out almost immediately when tickets went on sale.
She’s a fighter
Gretchen Whitmer made history when she became Michigan’s first female Democratic minority leader following an impressive Senate career, becoming first prosecutor and leading Ingham County Democrats as well. A progressive, Whitmer has championed healthcare legislation while giving Democrats’ response to President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address; fighting for women’s rights while working to fix crumbling roads across Michigan is her commitment.
Gretchen Whitmer campaigned on an agenda of increased transparency by opening up her office to Freedom of Information Act requests, yet has fallen short in fulfilling this pledge and been widely criticized. Her critics contend that Michigan’s declining road quality can be traced back to decades of neglect and lack of funding; an argument she contends she has an answer for.
As a working mother, Whitmer has demonstrated her devotion to constituents by serving as an effective representative. Her main priorities have been providing high-quality public schools, expanding childcare options, supporting local communities and taking a firm stance against gun violence by supporting “red flag” laws that allow judges to confiscate guns from people who pose threats to themselves or others. Furthermore, she supports Proposal 1, a constitutional amendment designed to change lawmakers’ term limits and require financial disclosure from statewide elected officials – this proposal passed the state House but is currently stuck at Senate level
She’s a mom
As a mother herself, Whitmer understands the significance of women’s voices as much as men’s in politics – a lesson she was instilled by her own mother Sherry Whitmer who served Michigan’s Assistant Attorney General before moving onto state Senate status and wearing an eye-catching pink suit to work one day and was met by criticism from colleagues for it being inappropriate. Instead she answered back that it was “My power color”, then continued working uninterrupted.
As governor, Whitmer has put her philosophy into action. She has championed policies such as paid family leave and childcare for working families; an economic development law; and gun safety measures which were passed with unprecedented speed by state legislators.
Over the last year, she has spoken out against COVID-19 pandemic and opposed right-wing attempts to strip her of emergency powers necessary to manage it. Additionally, in 2020 police foiled an attempt by right-wing extremists to kidnap her which police successfully foiled.
Smit asserts that Gretchen Whitmer draws upon her experience as a parent to shape everything she does as governor, including advocating for parental rights in the legislature and supporting legislation decriminalizing paid surrogacy contracts. She’s confident that mothers like Whitmer will remain an influential political force even as our nation shifts further left, which bodes well for children’s futures and our nation alike.
