Career Timeline of Gretchen Whitmer: Major Achievements and Milestones

1999: Elected Chair of East Lansing Transportation Commission

In 1999, Gretchen Whitmer was elected chair of the East Lansing Transportation Commission.

2000: Elected to Michigan House of Representatives

In 2000, Gretchen Whitmer was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives for the 70th district.

2000: Elected to Michigan House of Representatives

In 2000, Gretchen Whitmer was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.

2001: Elected to Michigan House of Representatives

In 2001, Gretchen Whitmer served in the Michigan House of Representatives.

2002: Re-elected to Michigan House

In 2002, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to the 69th House district.

2003: Introduced Bill to Raise Alcohol Taxes

In 2003, Gretchen Whitmer introduced a bill in the Michigan House that would raise taxes on alcohol and improve fire protection in the state.

2004: Re-elected to Michigan House

In 2004, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to the 69th House district.

March 2006: Won Special Election to Michigan State Senate

In March 2006, Gretchen Whitmer won a special election to the Michigan State Senate.

2006: Elected to Michigan Senate

In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer served in the Michigan State Senate.

2006: Won Special Election to State Senate

In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer won a special election to the Michigan State Senate.

2010: Re-elected to Michigan State Senate

In 2010, Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to the Michigan State Senate.

2011: Became First Female Democratic Leader in the Senate

In 2011, Gretchen Whitmer became the first female Democratic leader in the Michigan State Senate.

2011: Chosen as Senate Democratic Leader

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.

2012: Wrote Open Letter on School Violence Prevention

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.

2013: Played Key Role in Passing Medicaid Expansion

In 2013, as Senate minority leader, Gretchen Whitmer played a key role in passing Michigan's Medicaid expansion, delivering Democratic votes needed to pass it.

2014: Unable to Run for Reelection

In 2014, Gretchen Whitmer was unable to run for reelection due to term limits.

2015: Left Office in State Senate

In 2015, Gretchen Whitmer left office in the Michigan State Senate due to term limits.

2015: End of Term in State Senate

In 2015, Gretchen Whitmer's term in the Michigan State Senate ended.

2015: End of term in Michigan Senate

In 2015, Gretchen Whitmer's term in the Michigan State Senate ended.

May 11, 2016: Selected as Ingham County Prosecutor

On May 11, 2016, the judges of Michigan's 30th Judicial Circuit Court unanimously selected Gretchen Whitmer to serve as the Ingham County Prosecutor.

June 21, 2016: Whitmer Sworn in as Prosecutor

On June 21, 2016, Gretchen Whitmer was sworn in as prosecutor by Ingham County Circuit Court Chief Judge Janelle Lawless.

July 2016: Issued Report on Dunnings' Offenses

In July 2016, Gretchen Whitmer issued an 11-page report on whether Stuart Dunnings' offenses had affected cases the office handled.

2016: Served as Prosecutor for Ingham County

For six months in 2016, Gretchen Whitmer was the prosecutor for Ingham County.

December 31, 2016: End of Term as Prosecutor

Gretchen Whitmer's term as prosecutor expired on December 31, 2016.

January 3, 2017: Announced Candidacy for Governor

On January 3, 2017, Gretchen Whitmer announced she would run in the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial race.

August 2018: Won Democratic Primary

In August 2018, Gretchen Whitmer became the Democratic nominee for governor, winning 52% of the vote.

2018: Campained for Governor

During the 2018 campaign, Gretchen Whitmer focused on improving Michigan's fundamentals, including schools, roads, and water systems.

2018: Opposed Single-Payer Healthcare on State Level

In 2018, Gretchen Whitmer spoke against single-payer healthcare as unrealistic on a state level but also said she supports and thinks there is a good opportunity to enact federal-level Medicare for All.

2018: Elected Governor of Michigan

In 2018, Gretchen Whitmer was elected Governor of Michigan, defeating Republican nominee Bill Schuette.

2018: Endorsed Proposal 1 to Legalize Cannabis

In 2018, as a candidate for governor, Gretchen Whitmer spoke at Hash Bash to endorse Proposal 1 to legalize recreational cannabis in Michigan.

2018: Human Rights Campaign Endorsement

The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gretchen Whitmer during her 2018 campaign for governor.

February 2019: Reorganized State Government Departments

In February 2019, Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order that reorganized some state government departments, renaming the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

2019: Became Governor of Michigan

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer began serving as the 49th Governor of Michigan.

2019: Canceled Sale of Prison Over Detention Center Concerns

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer canceled the sale of a former state prison over the purchasing company's plans to operate the facility as an immigrant detention center. She canceled the sale because the purchasing company could not guarantee that the facility would not be used to house members of families separated under the Trump administration family separation policy.

2019: Established Michigan Reconnect Program

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Reconnect program with bipartisan support to address workforce talent shortages. This program allows Michiganders 25 or older without a college degree to enroll tuition-free in an associate degree or professional skills certificate program.

2019: Joined Call for Common Sense Gun Legislation

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer joined 11 other governors in calling for "common sense gun legislation".

2019: Struggled to Pass Budget

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer struggled with the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a budget and made several concessions.

2019: Supported Undocumented Immigrant Rights

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer told immigration rights groups that she supported plans to give undocumented immigrants driver's licenses or a form of government ID.

2019: Created Clean Water Advocate Office

In 2019, Whitmer created the office of the Clean Water Public Advocate.

2019: Celebrated Legalization of Cannabis at Hash Bash

In 2019, as governor, Gretchen Whitmer reappeared at Hash Bash via video message to celebrate the legalization of recreational cannabis in Michigan, saying, "We worked hard, we got it done."

February 2020: Delivered Democratic Response to State of the Union

In February 2020, Gretchen Whitmer was selected to deliver the Democratic response to the State of the Union address. This was due to Michigan being a swing state in the 2020 United States presidential election, and it was speculated that Democrats hoped that selecting Whitmer would bolster their chance of winning the state.

February 2020: Delivered Democratic Response to State of the Union

In February 2020, Gretchen Whitmer was selected to give the Democratic response to then President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address.

May 2020: Gained National Profile Amid Trump Attacks

In May 2020, during her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, after tweets where then-President Donald Trump attacked her and dismissed her as "the woman in Michigan", Gretchen Whitmer changed the wording to the more specific "that woman in Michigan" in speeches and on T-shirts, gaining a greater national profile as Trump's original wording was forgotten.

2020: Announced Rebuilding Michigan Program

In 2020, Governor Whitmer announced the Rebuilding Michigan program, allocating $3.5 billion in state funding for over 120 road projects over the next five years.

2020: Launched Futures for Frontliners Program

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.

2020: Spoke at the Democratic National Convention

In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer praised Joe Biden's work in rescuing the Michigan auto industry and criticized then-President Donald Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during her speech at the Democratic National Convention.

2020: Signed Bill to End Surprise Medical Billing

In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill into law to end surprise medical billing in Michigan by requiring providers to negotiate bills for out-of-network emergency services with a patient's insurance company instead of the patient.

2020: Considered as Vice Presidential Candidate

In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer was vetted by Joe Biden's team as a potential running mate. Her consideration further elevated her national stature.

2020: Expanded Access to Mail-In Voting

In 2020, Whitmer signed an executive order expanding access to mail-in voting.

2020: Endorsed Joe Biden for President

In early March 2020, Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Joe Biden for president and joined his campaign as a national co-chair.

January 9, 2021: Declined interest in Biden Cabinet position

On January 9, 2021, Gretchen Whitmer stated that she was not interested in leaving her role as governor of Michigan, despite speculation that she might be offered a position in Joe Biden's cabinet.

January 2021: Called for Ban on Weapons Inside Michigan State Capitol

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.

January 2021: Elected Vice Chair of Democratic National Committee

In early January 2021, Gretchen Whitmer was nominated as a vice chair candidate for the Democratic National Committee. On January 20, 2021, the committee elected Whitmer and the rest of the candidates unopposed.

January 2021: Became Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee

Since January 2021, Gretchen Whitmer has served as one of the vice chairs of the Democratic National Committee.

September 2021: Began Working to Repeal Abortion Ban

In September 2021, Gretchen Whitmer began working with the state legislature to repeal a 90-year-old law that banned abortion in Michigan, to preserve abortion rights in the state in case Roe v. Wade was overturned.

October 2021: Expanded Property Tax Exemptions

In October 2021, Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation expanding property tax exemptions, providing $75 million in savings for small businesses.

December 2021: SALT Tax Cap Workaround

In December 2021, Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation creating a SALT tax cap workaround for small businesses, providing a total of $200 million in tax savings.

December 20, 2021: Signed Bill Creating Economic Development Fund

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.

2021: Program Reached Over 120,000 Applicants

By 2021, more than 120,000 people had applied for Gretchen Whitmer's Futures for Frontliners program, a first-of-its-kind initiative providing tuition-free access to education for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Declared Michigan Ready to Accept Afghan Refugees

In 2021, Gretchen Whitmer declared that Michigan was ready to accept Afghan refugee families fleeing the country amid the Taliban takeover following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

2021: S&P and Fitch Rating Outlook Upgrades

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.

2022: Michigan Roads "in their best shape in years"

According to the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council's 2022 report, Michigan's roads were "in their best shape in years".

2022: Considered Possible Presidential Candidate

After her 2022 reelection as governor, Gretchen Whitmer was considered a possible presidential candidate in the event that Joe Biden did not run for a second term in 2024.

2022: Democrats Took Control of the Senate and House of Representatives

After the 2022 Michigan elections, Democrats took control of the Senate and House of Representatives, allowing Whitmer greater control of her legislative agenda.

2022: Signed Bills to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan package of bills into law to reduce prescription drug prices.

2022: Established Michigan Achievement Scholarship

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation establishing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and providing $560 million to fund it, expanding affordable access to college education.

2022: Supported Proposal 3 for Reproductive Freedom

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer strongly supported Michigan Proposal 3, a ballot proposal that amended the Michigan Constitution to include the right to reproductive freedom. The proposal was approved by a wide margin in the election.

2022: Re-elected as Governor

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer was reelected as governor, defeating Republican nominee Tudor Dixon.

2022: Reelected as Governor

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer was reelected to a second term as governor, defeating Republican nominee Tudor Dixon.

2022: Michigan Had Fifth-Lowest Tax Burden

In 2022, Michigan had the fifth-lowest state and local tax burden in the nation and the lowest in the Midwest, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.

2022: Michigan Rainy-Day Fund Reaches Record High

In 2022, Michigan's rainy-day fund reached an all-time high of $1.6 billion, with an additional $180 million deposit as part of bipartisan spending agreements.

2022: Secured Water Infrastructure Investments

In 2022, Whitmer secured $1.7 billion in water infrastructure investments as part of a bipartisan infrastructure deal.

2022: Signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

In 2022, Whitmer signed a bipartisan $5 billion infrastructure deal, including over $400 million for state and local roads and bridges, and issued an executive order to streamline road repairs.

2022: Human Rights Campaign Endorsement

The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gretchen Whitmer during her 2022 campaign for governor.

January 2023: State of the State Address

In her January 2023 State of the State address, Gretchen Whitmer called for various legislative actions, including repealing the retirement tax, increasing the earned income tax credit, and investing in renewable energy.

March 2023: Expanded Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

In March 2023, Whitmer signed legislation expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections against discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

March 2023: Repealed "Right-to-Work" Law

In March 2023, Whitmer signed the repeal of the state's 2012 "right-to-work law."

April 2023: Signed Bill Repealing Abortion Ban

In April 2023, Governor Whitmer signed a bill repealing the 1931 ban on abortion in Michigan, ensuring abortion access in the state.

April 2023: Signed Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

In April 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of gun violence prevention legislation into law. The Michigan package included a universal background checks law, a safe storage law, a law exempting of firearm safety devices from state sales tax and use tax, and a law containing new licensure requirements for gun owners.

April 25, 2023: Named Co-Chair of Biden's Reelection Campaign

On April 25, 2023, Gretchen Whitmer was named co-chair of President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

May 2023: Signed Red Flag Law

In May 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a red flag law; that law took effect in February 2024.

November 2023: Signed Election-Related Bills

In November 2023, Whitmer signed a series of election-related bills to expand voter registration and protect election workers.

2023: Signed $1 Billion Tax Cut Package

In 2023, Whitmer signed a bipartisan $1 billion package of tax cuts into law, including repealing the retirement tax and quintupling the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit.

2023: Called for Expanding Michigan Reconnect Program

In her 2023 State of the State Address, Gretchen Whitmer called for expanding the Michigan Reconnect program by lowering the minimum age to 21.

2023: Road Condition Report

The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council's 2023 report noted a slight decrease in roads rated as "good" and an increase in those deemed "poor", but acknowledged that roads had not deteriorated substantially from the previous year's gains.

February 2024: Red Flag Law Took Effect

In February 2024, the red flag law that Gretchen Whitmer signed in May 2023 took effect in Michigan.

March 2024: Hinted at Possible 2028 Presidential Run

In a speech in Washington D.C. in March 2024, Gretchen Whitmer hinted at potentially running for president in 2028, stating, "See you in 2029."

July 2024: Announced No Presidential Run, Endorsed Harris

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 stated that she would not accept an offer to be Harris's running mate.

2024: Signed Bills to Regulate Political Disinformation

In 2024, Whitmer signed packages of bills to regulate political disinformation campaigns, requiring AI-generated political ads to contain disclaimers.