Gretchen Whitmer is the 49th and current governor of Michigan, serving since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, she previously held positions in the Michigan House of Representatives (2001-2006) and the Michigan Senate (2006-2015).
In her January 2023 State of the State address, Gretchen Whitmer called for a repeal of Michigan's now defunct 1931 abortion ban
On August 23, 1971, Gretchen Esther Whitmer was born. She is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019.
From 1985 to 1989, Gretchen Whitmer attended Forest Hills Central High School near Grand Rapids, participating in the school's softball and track and field teams.
In 1987, Gretchen Whitmer was awarded most improved student at Forest Hills Central High School.
In 1988, Gretchen Whitmer's father became the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a position he held until 2006.
In 1989, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from Forest Hills Central High School.
In 1993, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in communication.
In 1998, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from the Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude.
In 1998, Gretchen Whitmer received a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University.
In 1999, Gretchen Whitmer was elected chair of the East Lansing Transportation Commission.
In 2000, Gretchen Whitmer was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives' 70th district.
In 2001, Gretchen Whitmer married Gary Shrewsbury, a photographer, after being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.
In 2002, Gretchen Whitmer gave birth to her first child shortly before her mother passed away from glioblastoma at the age of 59.
In 2002, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to the 69th House district.
In 2003, Gretchen Whitmer introduced a bill in the Michigan House that would raise taxes on alcohol and improve fire protection in the state.
In 2004, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to the 69th House district and served as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee.
In November 2005, Virg Bernero was elected mayor of Lansing, which created the vacancy Gretchen Whitmer filled in March 2006.
In 2005, Gretchen Whitmer was voted Most Effective Democrat of the Michigan House.
In March 2006, Gretchen Whitmer won a special election to the Michigan State Senate.
In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer won a special election to the Michigan State Senate and served in that chamber until 2015.
In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer's father left Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
In 2008, Gretchen Whitmer divorced Gary Shrewsbury. Despite the divorce, they remain close.
In 2010, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to the Michigan State Senate.
In 2011, Gretchen Whitmer became the first woman to lead a party caucus in the Michigan State Senate, serving as Senate Democratic Leader from 2011 to 2015.
In 2011, Gretchen Whitmer married Marc P. Mallory, a dentist who identifies as fiscally conservative but socially liberal.
In 2011, Gretchen Whitmer's Democratic colleagues unanimously chose her to be the Senate Democratic Leader, making her the first woman to lead a party caucus in the Senate.
In 2012, Gretchen Whitmer wrote an open letter to National Rifle Association President Wayne LaPierre on HuffPost about actions to prevent further school violence like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
In 2012, Michigan enacted a "right-to-work law" that Whitmer later repealed.
In 2013, Gretchen Whitmer gained national attention for a floor speech during a debate on abortion in which she shared her experience of being sexually assaulted.
In 2014, Gretchen Whitmer was unable to run for reelection due to term limits.
In 2015, Gretchen Whitmer was unable to run for reelection in 2014 due to term limits and left office.
On May 11, 2016, Gretchen Whitmer was unanimously selected to serve the remaining six months of outgoing Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III's term.
On June 21, 2016, Gretchen Whitmer was administered the oath of office as prosecutor by Ingham County Circuit Court Chief Judge Janelle Lawless. Whitmer's top priorities during her six months of service would be to determine if any other officials in the prosecutor's office knew about Dunnings's alleged crimes and to change how the office handled domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
On July 2, 2016, Stuart Dunnings III resigned as Ingham County Prosecutor, effective this date, after being charged with misconduct in office and with prostitution-related offenses.
In July 2016, Gretchen Whitmer issued an 11-page report on whether Dunnings's offenses had affected cases the office handled.
For six months in 2016, Gretchen Whitmer served as the prosecutor for Ingham County.
Gretchen Whitmer's term as Ingham County Prosecutor expired on December 31, 2016.
On January 3, 2017, Gretchen Whitmer announced she would run in the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial race.
In August 2018, Gretchen Whitmer became the Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan, winning 52% of the vote.
In 2018, Gary Shrewsbury, Gretchen Whitmer's former husband, worked as a photographer on her gubernatorial campaign.
In 2018, Gretchen Whitmer spoke against single-payer healthcare as unrealistic on a state level, but expressed support for federal-level Medicare for All. She also pledged to lower prescription drug costs and repeal Schuette's drug immunity law, which she believed protected drug companies from legal accountability if their drugs harmed or killed people.
In 2018, Gretchen Whitmer was elected governor of Michigan, defeating Republican nominee Bill Schuette.
In 2018, the Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gretchen Whitmer during her campaign for governor.
While campaigning in 2018, Gretchen Whitmer said that, if elected, she would focus on improving Michigan's "fundamentals" such as schools, roads, and water systems.
In 2019, Governor Whitmer struggled with the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a budget and made several concessions.
In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer canceled the sale of a former state prison due to concerns that the purchasing company intended to operate the facility as an immigrant detention center. The sale was canceled because the company could not guarantee the facility would not be used to house families separated under the Trump administration's family separation policy.
In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer created the office of the Clean Water Public Advocate and enforced Michigan's updated lead and copper drinking water rule, which established the nation's strictest standards for drinking water contamination.
In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Reconnect program to address workforce talent shortages, aiming to have 60% of working-age adults in Michigan with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030.
In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer joined 11 other governors in calling for "common sense gun legislation".
In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer voiced her support to immigration rights groups for plans to grant undocumented immigrants driver's licenses or other forms of government identification.
In February 2020, Gretchen Whitmer was selected to deliver the Democratic response to then President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, with Michigan considered a swing state.
In March 2020, President Donald Trump reportedly told Vice President Mike Pence, "don't call the woman in Michigan" in response to Gretchen Whitmer's criticisms of his administration's COVID-19 pandemic response. This event in March 2020 led to Whitmer embracing the description.
In March 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gretchen Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order for Michigan.
In April 2020 armed protestors demonstrated at the Michigan State Capitol, leading to calls for a ban on weapons inside the building.
In April 2020, a Michigan judge rejected a legal challenge to Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order.
In April 2020, right-wing groups organized a protest against Governor Whitmer's COVID-19 restrictions at the Michigan State Capitol.
In May 2020, Detroit-based comedy rapper Gmac Cash released "Big Gretch", a song praising Gretchen Whitmer and the COVID-19 lockdown. The song gained popularity on YouTube.
In May 2020, amid her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecily Strong portrayed Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday Night Live after tweets in which Trump attacked her and dismissed her as "the woman in Michigan".
In May 2020, the Edenville Dam gave way after awaiting an overdue report on its safety standards. Whitmer directed the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to form an investigation.
On June 1, 2020, Gretchen Whitmer lifted Michigan's stay-at-home order, moving the state to "phase four" of her reopening plan.
In September 2020, Gretchen Whitmer's COVID-19-related orders, which were issued from March through September 2020, were under the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act.
On October 8, 2020, a federal indictment was unsealed against six men associated with the Wolverine Watchmen for plotting to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer and violently overthrow Michigan's government.
In October 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation thwarted a far-right militia group's kidnapping plot against Gretchen Whitmer.
In October 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act was unconstitutional, limiting Whitmer's power to issue COVID-19 related executive orders without legislative approval.
In December 2020, Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the legislation passed by the legislature to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act.
In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer announced the Rebuilding Michigan program, which allocated $3.5 billion in state funding for over 120 road projects over the next five years. The program focused on major roads with significant economic impact and high traffic volume.
In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer launched the Futures for Frontliners program, providing tuition-free access to an associate degree or professional certification program for Michiganders who served as essential workers during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer publicly disapproved of President Trump's plan to exclude illegal immigrants from the United States census.
In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill into law, effectively ending surprise medical billing in Michigan. This legislation mandates that healthcare providers negotiate bills for out-of-network emergency services directly with a patient's insurance company, rather than burdening the patient.
In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order expanding access to mail-in voting.
In 2020, during her speech to the Democratic National Convention, Gretchen Whitmer praised Joe Biden's work in rescuing the Michigan auto industry and criticized Donald Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 9, 2021, Gretchen Whitmer stated that she was not interested in leaving her role as governor, despite speculation that she might be offered a position in Joe Biden's cabinet.
From January 2021 to February 2025, Gretchen Whitmer served as one of the vice chairs of the Democratic National Committee.
In January 2021, Gretchen Whitmer called for a ban on all weapons inside the Michigan State Capitol in response to armed protestors in April 2020.
In January 2021, then-President-elect Joe Biden nominated Gretchen Whitmer as a vice chair candidate for the Democratic National Committee.
In February 2021, Cecily Strong portrayed Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday Night Live episodes.
In May 2021, Gretchen Whitmer apologized after being photographed with a large group of unmasked people, with no social distancing, at a restaurant in East Lansing, violating state-mandated social distancing guidelines.
On June 22, 2021, Gretchen Whitmer lifted all COVID-19-related restrictions in Michigan, citing a reduction in COVID-19 cases and the availability of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
In July 2021, the legislature approved a citizen initiative to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act, which took effect as Whitmer could not veto it.
In September 2021, Gretchen Whitmer began working with the state legislature to repeal a 90-year-old law that banned abortion in Michigan.
In October 2021, Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation that expanded property tax exemptions, providing $75 million in savings for small businesses in Michigan.
In December 2021, Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation that created a SALT tax cap workaround for small businesses, providing a total of $200 million in tax savings in Michigan.
On December 20, 2021, Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4603, a bipartisan measure that created a $1 billion economic development fund to attract manufacturers to Michigan.
In 2021, Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan was prepared to welcome Afghan refugee families fleeing the country amid the Taliban takeover after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. She emphasized Michigan's history of multiculturalism and commitment to assisting those arriving in the state to establish themselves.
In 2021, S&P and Fitch both announced rating outlook upgrades for Michigan, citing the state's responsible fiscal management and economic success emerging from the pandemic.
In April 2022, two men (Harris and Caserta) were acquitted on all charges on grounds of entrapment by federal authorities in connection to the kidnapping plot.
In August 2022, two men (Fox and Barry Croft Jr.) were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer.
In October 2022, three men (Morrison, Musico, and Bellar) were convicted of providing material support for a terrorist act in connection to the kidnapping plot.
According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Michigan had the fifth-lowest state and local tax burden in the nation and the lowest in the Midwest in 2022.
After the 2022 Michigan elections, Democrats took control of the Senate and House of Representatives, allowing Whitmer greater control of her legislative agenda.
In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan $5 billion infrastructure deal that included over $400 million for state and local roads and bridges. She also signed an executive order aimed at streamlining road repairs by speeding up permitting for infrastructure projects and announced the creation of the Michigan Infrastructure Office to improve coordination between agencies and enhance the effectiveness of infrastructure funding allocation.
In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan package of bills into law aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in Michigan. These bills require pharmacists to disclose the prices of cheaper generic alternatives to patients and mandate pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed and file drug-price transparency reports.
In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected as governor of Michigan, defeating Republican nominee Tudor Dixon.
In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to a second term as governor of Michigan, defeating Republican nominee Tudor Dixon.
In 2022, as part of a bipartisan infrastructure deal, Gretchen Whitmer secured $1.7 billion in water infrastructure investments. This package provided substantial funding for local governments to upgrade their drinking water systems, replace lead service lines, and address other drinking water contaminants.
In 2022, the Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gretchen Whitmer during her campaign for governor.
Thanks to deposits made in 2021 and 2022, Michigan's rainy-day fund grew to an all-time high of $1.6 billion in 2022 under Gretchen Whitmer's leadership.
The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council's 2022 report noted that Michigan's roads were "in their best shape in years".
In her January 2023 State of the State address, Gretchen Whitmer called for repeal of the state's retirement tax; an increase in the state earned income tax credit from 6% to 30%, universal pre-kindergarten; investment in renewable energy such as wind and solar power; a repeal of Michigan's now defunct 1931 abortion ban; increasing education spending, and stricter gun laws, such as universal background checks and a ban on 3D printed guns; the addition of sexual identity and gender identity protections to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act; and further investment in manufacturing.
In March 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act in Michigan, including protections against discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill was passed with bipartisan support in both the Michigan House and Senate.
In March 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed the repeal of Michigan's 2012 "right-to-work law", making Michigan the first state in 58 years to repeal such a law. She also signed legislation reinstating a prevailing wage law.
In April 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill repealing the 1931 ban on abortion, ensuring abortion access in Michigan.
In April 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of gun violence prevention legislation passed by the Democrats after they won a majority in the state legislature, in the aftermath of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting and 2023 Michigan State University shooting.
On April 25, 2023, Gretchen Whitmer was named co-chair of Joe Biden's reelection campaign.
In May 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a red flag law, which took effect in February 2024.
In November 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of election-related bills which expands automatic citizen voter registration and makes it a criminal offense to intimidate or threaten a poll worker. It also clarifies the canvassing board's duty to certify election results.
In November 2023, Gretchen Whitmer's sister, Liz Whitmer Gereghty, dropped out of the Democratic primary for Congress in New York's 17th congressional district and endorsed Mondaire Jones.
In 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan $1 billion package of tax cuts into law in Michigan. The legislation included repealing the retirement tax, quintupling the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit, and allocating up to $500 million per year of corporate taxes towards the state's fund for business incentives.
In 2023, Gretchen Whitmer told WNEM-TV that "Big Gretch" was a persona that emerged from the pandemic as a form of encouragement.
In 2023, Gretchen Whitmer was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
In her 2023 State of the State Address, Gretchen Whitmer called for expanding the Michigan Reconnect program by lowering the minimum age to 21.
The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council's 2023 report found that "slightly fewer roads were in good condition and slightly more were deemed poor" but said it was a good sign that roads had not deteriorated substantially from the gains in the previous year.
In February 2024, the red flag law that was signed in May 2023 by Gretchen Whitmer took effect.
In a speech in Washington D.C. in March 2024, Gretchen Whitmer hinted at running for president in 2028, saying, "See you in 2029."
After Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy in July 2024, Gretchen Whitmer announced that she would not seek the Democratic nomination, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. She also said she would not accept an offer to be Harris's running mate.
In October 2024, Gretchen Whitmer appeared in a viral video promoting the CHIPS and Science Act, where she fed a Dorito chip to a podcaster. This clip was criticized by some Catholic groups. Whitmer apologized and clarified that the stunt was intended to promote semiconductor manufacturing legislation. The event happened in October 2024.
In November 2024, following the election, Gretchen Whitmer, along with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, delivered pro-Israel speeches at a pro-Israel rally held by the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly. They expressed solidarity with the Israeli people.
At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Gretchen Whitmer addressed the "Big Gretch" nickname, stating, "In Lansing, they call me governor, but in Detroit, I’m 'Big Gretch!'"
In 2024, Gretchen Whitmer signed packages of bills that include a bill to regulate political disinformation campaigns by requiring artificial intelligence-generated political ads to contain disclaimers.
In 2024, Gretchen Whitmer's sister, Liz Whitmer Gereghty, briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New York's 17th congressional district.
In February 2025, Gretchen Whitmer's term as one of the vice chairs of the Democratic National Committee will end.
In April 2025, Gretchen Whitmer attended an Oval Office event and a Selfridge Air National Guard Base event with Donald Trump, where he announced a new F‑15EX fighter jet mission for Michigan.
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