History of Gretchen Whitmer in Timeline

Gretchen Whitmer is the 49th and current governor of Michigan, serving since 2019. A Democrat, she previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and then in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015. She is a lawyer by profession and has dedicated her career to public service in the state of Michigan.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1931: Governor Called to Repeal State Abortion Ban

In her January 2023 State of the State address, Governor Whitmer called for a repeal of Michigan's now defunct 1931 abortion ban.

August 23, 1971: Gretchen Whitmer Born

On August 23, 1971, Gretchen Esther Whitmer was born. She is now a lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019.

1985: Attended Forest Hills Central High School

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.

1988: Father became President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

In 1988, Gretchen Whitmer's father became the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a position he held until 2006.

1989: Graduated from Forest Hills Central High School

In 1989, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from Forest Hills Central High School.

1993: Graduated with BA in Communication

In 1993, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication.

1993: Graduated from Michigan State University

In 1993, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in communication.

1998: Graduated with Juris Doctor Degree

In 1998, Gretchen Whitmer graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude.

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' 70th district.

2001: Elected to Michigan House of Representatives

In 2001, Gretchen Whitmer was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. She served until 2006.

2002: Re-elected to the 69th House district

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

2002: Birth of First Child and Death of Mother

In 2002, shortly after Gretchen Whitmer gave birth to her first child, her mother passed away from glioblastoma.

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 the 69th House district

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

November 2005: Virg Bernero Elected Mayor of Lansing

In November 2005, Virg Bernero, whom Gretchen Whitmer replaced, was elected mayor of Lansing.

2005: Voted Most Effective Democrat of the Michigan House

In 2005, Gretchen Whitmer was voted Most Effective Democrat of the Michigan House.

March 2006: Won Special Election to Michigan State Senate

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

2006: Elected to Michigan State Senate

In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer was elected to the Michigan State Senate. She served in the Senate until 2015.

2006: Won Special Election to State Senate

In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer won a special election to the state senate and served in that chamber until 2015.

2006: Father leaves Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

In 2006, Gretchen Whitmer's father left his position as the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

2008: Divorced Gary Shrewsbury

In 2008, Gretchen Whitmer divorced her first husband, Gary Shrewsbury.

2010: Re-elected to Michigan State Senate

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

2011: First Female Democratic Leader in the Senate

From 2011 to 2015, Gretchen Whitmer became the first female Democratic leader in the Michigan Senate.

2011: Married Marc P. Mallory

In 2011, Gretchen Whitmer married dentist Marc P. Mallory, a Republican voter who identifies as fiscally conservative but socially liberal.

2011: Chosen as Senate Democratic Leader

In 2011, Gretchen Whitmer was unanimously chosen by her Democratic colleagues to be the Senate Democratic Leader, making her the first woman to lead a party caucus in the Senate.

2012: "Right-to-work" law in Michigan

In 2012, Michigan enacted a "right-to-work" law that was repealed in March 2023, under Whitmer's governorship.

2013: Shared Sexual Assault Experience

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.

2013: Key role in passing Michigan's Medicaid expansion

In 2013, as Senate minority leader, Gretchen Whitmer played a key role in passing Michigan's Medicaid expansion, delivering the Democratic votes needed for its approval.

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.

May 11, 2016: Selected to Serve as Ingham County Prosecutor

On May 11, 2016, Gretchen Whitmer was unanimously selected by the judges of Michigan's 30th Judicial Circuit Court to serve as the Ingham County Prosecutor for the remaining six months of Stuart Dunnings III's term.

June 21, 2016: Administered Oath of Office as Prosecutor

On June 21, 2016, Gretchen Whitmer was administered the oath of office as prosecutor by Ingham County Circuit Court Chief Judge Janelle Lawless.

July 2, 2016: Dunnings Resigned

Stuart Dunnings III resigned effective July 2, 2016 after being charged with misconduct.

July 2016: Issued Report on Dunnings' Offenses

In July 2016, Gretchen Whitmer issued an 11-page report on whether Stuart Dunnings's 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: Whitmer's Term as Prosecutor Expired

On December 31, 2016, Gretchen Whitmer's term as Ingham County Prosecutor expired.

January 3, 2017: Announced Gubernatorial Run

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

August 2018: Became Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee

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

2018: Campaigning for Governor

During her campaign in 2018, Gretchen Whitmer focused on improving Michigan's schools, roads, and water systems.

2018: Elected Governor of Michigan

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

2018: Human Rights Campaign Endorsed Whitmer

In 2018, The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gretchen Whitmer during her campaign for governor, recognizing her advocacy for expanding Michigan's civil rights law to include LGBT individuals.

February 2019: Reorganization of State Government Departments

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

2019: Struggled to Pass Budget

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

2019: Became Governor of Michigan

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer became the 49th governor of Michigan. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

2019: Whitmer Canceled Sale of Former State Prison

In 2019, Gretchen Whitmer canceled the sale of a former state prison due to the purchasing company's plans to operate it as an immigrant detention center. The decision was made because the company could not guarantee the facility would not house families separated under the Trump administration's family separation policy.

2019: Created Clean Water Public Advocate Office

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 set the nation's strictest standards for drinking water contamination.

2019: Supported giving undocumented immigrants driver's licenses

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.

February 2020: Delivery of 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 by then President Donald Trump.

March 2020: Issued Stay-at-Home Order

In March 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order in Michigan.

April 2020: Stay-at-Home Order Upheld by Michigan Judge

In April 2020, a Michigan judge rejected a legal challenge to Governor Whitmer's stay-at-home order, upholding the state's power to protect public health.

April 2020: Protests Against Restrictions

In April 2020, right-wing groups organized protests against Governor Whitmer's COVID-19 restrictions in Michigan.

April 2020: Armed Protestors at the Michigan State Capitol

In April 2020, there were armed protestors at the Michigan State Capitol, which led Gretchen Whitmer to call for a ban on weapons inside the Capitol in January 2021.

May 2020: Cecily Strong's Portrayal of Whitmer on Saturday Night Live

In May 2020, Cecily Strong portrayed Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday Night Live.

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May 2020: Gmac Cash Released "Big Gretch"

In May 2020, Detroit-based comedy rapper Gmac Cash released "Big Gretch", a song praising Gretchen Whitmer and the COVID-19 lockdown. The song went viral on YouTube.

May 2020: Edenville Dam Failure

In May 2020, the Edenville Dam gave way, leading to criticism of the investigation directed by Governor Whitmer.

June 1, 2020: Lifted Stay-at-Home Order

On June 1, 2020, Governor Whitmer lifted Michigan's stay-at-home order and moved the state to "phase four" of her reopening plan.

September 2020: COVID-19 Orders under Emergency Powers Act

From March through September 2020, Gretchen Whitmer's COVID-19-related orders were issued under the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act. Republicans criticized her use of the law.

October 8, 2020: Federal Indictment Unsealed Against Men for Plotting to Kidnap Whitmer

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.

October 2020: Kidnapping Plot Thwarted

In October 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation thwarted a far-right militia group's kidnapping plot against Gretchen Whitmer.

October 2020: Michigan Supreme Court Decision and "Unlock Michigan" Initiative

In October 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act unconstitutional. On the same day, the group "Unlock Michigan" sought to trigger an initiative to repeal the 1945 act.

December 2020: Veto of Repeal Legislation

In December 2020, Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the legislation passed by the legislature to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act.

2020: Announced Rebuilding Michigan Program

In 2020, Governor Whitmer announced the Rebuilding Michigan program, which allocated $3.5 billion in state funding for over 120 road projects over the next five years, focusing on major roads with significant economic impact and traffic volume.

2020: Whitmer Disapproved Trump's Census Plan

In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer disapproved of President Trump's plan to exclude illegal immigrants from the United States census.

2020: Signed bill ending surprise medical billing

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

2020: Expanded Access to Mail-In Voting

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

January 9, 2021: Whitmer Declines Interest in Biden's Cabinet

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

January 2021: Call for Ban on Weapons in 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: Nomination as Vice Chair Candidate for Democratic National Committee

In early January 2021, then-President-elect Biden nominated Gretchen Whitmer as a vice chair candidate for the Democratic National Committee.

January 2021: Served as Vice Chair of Democratic National Committee

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

February 2021: Cecily Strong's Portrayal of Whitmer on Saturday Night Live

In February 2021, Cecily Strong portrayed Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday Night Live.

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May 2021: Apologized for Social Distancing Violation

In May 2021, Governor 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 guidelines.

June 22, 2021: Lifted All COVID-19 Restrictions

On June 22, 2021, Governor Whitmer lifted all COVID-19 restrictions in Michigan, citing a reduction in cases and the availability of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

July 2021: Legislature Approves Citizen Initiative

In July 2021, the legislature voted to approve the citizen initiative. Under state law, Whitmer could not veto this step, and the repeal took effect.

September 2021: 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, in order to preserve abortion rights in the state.

October 2021: Expanded Property Tax Exemptions for Small Businesses

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

December 2021: Created SALT Tax Cap Workaround for Small Businesses

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: Signing of House Bill 4603

On December 20, 2021, Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4603, which created a $1 billion economic development fund to attract manufacturers to Michigan.

2021: Michigan to Accept Afghan Refugee Families

In 2021, Governor Whitmer declared Michigan's readiness to welcome Afghan refugee families fleeing the Taliban takeover, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, highlighting Michigan's history of multiculturalism.

2021: S&P and Fitch Announced Rating Outlook Upgrades for Michigan

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.

April 2022: Acquittal of Two Men in Kidnapping Plot

In April 2022, two men (Harris and Caserta) were acquitted on all charges on grounds of entrapment by federal authorities regarding the plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer.

August 2022: Conviction of Two Men in Kidnapping Plot

In August 2022, two men (Fox and Barry Croft Jr.) were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer.

October 2022: Conviction of Three Men for Providing Material Support

In October 2022, three men (Morrison, Musico, and Bellar) were convicted of providing material support for a terrorist act related to the plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer.

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 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan $5 billion infrastructure deal that included over $400 million for state and local roads and bridges. Additionally, she issued an executive order to streamline road repairs by directing agencies to speed up permitting for infrastructure projects and announced the creation of the Michigan Infrastructure Office to coordinate between agencies and improve the effectiveness of infrastructure funding spending.

2022: Signed bills to reduce prescription drug prices

In 2022, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan package of bills into law aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in Michigan. The legislation requires pharmacists to disclose prices of cheaper generic drugs to patients and mandates that pharmacy benefit managers be licensed and file drug-price transparency reports.

2022: Re-elected as Governor

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

2022: Michigan Had Fifth-Lowest State and Local 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: Human Rights Campaign Endorsed Whitmer

In 2022, The Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gretchen Whitmer during her campaign for governor, recognizing her advocacy for expanding Michigan's civil rights law to include LGBT individuals.

2022: $1.7 Billion Water Infrastructure Investment

In 2022, as part of a nearly $5 billion bipartisan infrastructure deal, Gretchen Whitmer secured $1.7 billion in water infrastructure investments, including funding for local governments to upgrade drinking water systems, replace lead service lines, and address drinking water contaminants.

2022: Michigan Roads in Best Shape in Years

In 2022, the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council reported that Michigan's roads were "in their best shape in years," showing improvements in road quality.

2022: Michigan Rainy-Day Fund Reached All-Time High

In 2022, under Gretchen Whitmer's governorship, Michigan's rainy-day fund reached an all-time high of $1.6 billion, thanks to a $500 million deposit made in 2021 and an additional $180 million deposit in 2022 as part of bipartisan spending agreements.

January 2023: State of the State Address

In her January 2023 State of the State address, Governor Whitmer called for the repeal of the state's retirement tax, an increase in the state earned income tax credit, universal pre-kindergarten, investment in renewable energy, a repeal of Michigan's 1931 abortion ban, increased education spending, stricter gun laws, the addition of sexual identity and gender identity protections to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and further investment in manufacturing.

March 2023: Expanded Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

In March 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections against discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill passed with bipartisan support in both the Michigan House and Senate.

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

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.

April 2023: Signing Bill to Repeal Abortion Ban

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

April 2023: Signing Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

In April 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of gun violence prevention legislation into law, which included universal background checks, safe storage laws, and new licensure requirements.

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

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

May 2023: Signing Red Flag Law

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

November 2023: Signed Election-Related Bills

In November 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of election-related bills into law. The legislation expands automatic voter registration, criminalizes intimidation of poll workers, and clarifies the duty of canvassing boards to certify election results.

November 2023: Sister Dropped Out of Primary

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.

2023: Whitmer Known for Social Media Presence

As of 2023, Gretchen Whitmer is popular on social media, with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers and 4 million TikTok likes. She is known for wearing deep magenta lipstick, which The Lip Bar released as a product called "Big Gretch".

2023: Signed $1 Billion Package of Tax Cuts into Law

In 2023, Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan $1 billion package of tax cuts into law. The legislation repealed the retirement tax, quintupled the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit, and allocated up to $500 million per year of corporate taxes towards the state's fund for business incentives.

2023: Whitmer on Big Gretch

In 2023, Gretchen Whitmer told WNEM-TV that "Big Gretch" is a persona that came out of the pandemic as encouragement.

2023: Inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame

In 2023, Gretchen Whitmer was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

2023: Road condition report

In 2023, the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council found roads had not deteriorated substantially but slightly fewer roads were in good condition and slightly more were deemed poor.

February 2024: Red Flag Law Takes Effect

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

March 2024: Hints at 2028 Presidential Run

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

July 2024: Whitmer Announces No Run, Endorses Harris

After 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.

2024: Whitmer at the 2024 DNC

At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Gretchen Whitmer stated that, "Being a woman from Michigan is a badge of honor."

2024: Addressed nickname at DNC

In 2024, Gretchen Whitmer addressed the nickname "Big Gretch" at the Democratic National Convention, saying that "In Lansing, they call me governor, but in Detroit, I’m 'Big Gretch!'"

2024: Signed Bills Regulating Political Disinformation

In 2024, Gretchen Whitmer signed packages of bills including one to regulate political disinformation campaigns by requiring artificial intelligence-generated political ads to contain disclaimers.