Why doesn’t Gretchen Whitmer consider running for the presidency? Or at the very least, entertain the idea? Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, comfortably sat on the couch of a dimly lit TV studio in East Lansing, where a local PBS show called Off the Record is filmed, albeit an oddly-named interview show that attracts a viewership of 100,000.
“I know!” Whitmer affirmed, wearing a camouflage sweatshirt with the word “Michigangster” inscribed across the front. We rendezvoused here during a recent evening for an on-the-record interview, in which I would inquire about her thoughts on running for president.
No, Whitmer made it clear that she has no intentions of running for president. She wholeheartedly supports Joe Biden, describing him as a great, energetic individual who is by no means too old. Her main focus is helping him secure victory. She also has admiration for Kamala Harris. Love her!
However, it was evident that Whitmer was willing to play along with the idea of possibly changing her mind. She didn’t bother with the customary annoyance that ambitious politicians often put on—it’s such a hassle—when asked about their potential interest in the presidency. Instead, she chuckled at many of my inquiries. It seems that Whitmer genuinely enjoys being a politician, even the absurd and ridiculous aspects of it, like this.
“So, you’re not running for president,” I stated.
“Correct,” she affirmed.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because I just got reelected as governor,” she replied, with a smirk. “And I made a commitment to the people of Michigan that I’m going to fulfill.” Since her resounding victory over Republican Tudor Dixon in November, this has been Whitmer’s stock response.
Okay, fair enough. However, a few days prior to our conversation, Whitmer had announced her plans for a new political action committee (PAC) called Fight Like Hell PAC. The name is derived from her unwavering determination to protect abortion rights after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. Through this PAC, the governor will be able to raise funds for Democrats across the country leading up to 2024—an activity often undertaken by ambitious statewide leaders with limited terms who aspire to gain national recognition.
Surely, Whitmer must have noticed the unfortunate incident in early June when Biden stumbled on stage during the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation. Although he emerged unscathed, the incident emphasized the anxiety that accompanies watching an octogenarian run for re-election. Furthermore, Whitmer must have seen the recent CBS News poll which revealed that 67% of respondents believed Biden should not seek another term, including 75% of independents and 42% of Democrats.
Many Democratic colleagues, operatives, and donors have encouraged Whitmer to run for president, and not necessarily when her second term ends. She is highly regarded among the top Democrats in the “If Biden backs out” rankings and has even been suggested—by me as well—as a potential challenger in the primary race. Polls indicate a bipartisan desire to avoid a rematch between Biden and Trump, which has not exactly shaped up to be a joyful spectacle.
I followed Whitmer during a series of high-energy events across Michigan last week. She visited a dance studio in Detroit and a sporting goods store in Lansing, where she signed into law the Crown Act, making it illegal to discriminate against citizens based on their hairstyle. Whitmer received applause from a predominantly Black audience as she stated, “For far too long, we’ve known that hair-based discrimination has been used to deny equal opportunity for Black men and women.”
She has a knack for transitioning from specific issues to the broader theme of personal freedom, particularly concerning her pet cause—abortion access. Whitmer continued, “Michigan is a state where we stand up for fundamental rights. Whether it’s the right to make your own decisions about your health and body, or the freedom to feel safe in your community.” She also emphasized the freedom of movement. “Fix the damn roads” was Whitmer’s campaign slogan when she initially ran for governor in 2018. After a considerable amount of debate on how to fund the repairs, the state’s roads are now filled with orange construction barrels. She humorously refers to them as “our new state flower.”
Whitmer’s governing journey has faced some bumps along the way, particularly during her first term, when she confronted Republican majorities in both houses of the legislature. To finance the road repairs, she proposed a 45-cent-per-gallon increase in gas taxes—an idea that was widely unpopular and ultimately failed. Whitmer eventually circumvented the legislature and funded the repairs through several billion dollars in bonds approved by the State Transportation Commission.
A hyper-local message like “Fix the damn roads” may work well for a governor acting as a cheerleader, but it doesn’t always resonate on a national level. Whitmer is undeniably and unabashedly Michigan-born, with one of the thickest native accents I’ve ever heard—a pronounced northern twang that brings to mind the Upper Peninsula more than Detroit. She has lived in the state for all 51 years of her life—growing up in Lansing and Grand Rapids, attending college and law school at Michigan State, serving in the state House and Senate, and even owning a vacation property up north. Her colorful language, goofy humor, and ability to enjoy a beer while disarming adversaries make her a force to be reckoned with in Lansing.
“You could drop Gretchen Whitmer anywhere, and she could instantly connect with people,” Mike Duggan, the long-time mayor of Detroit, remarked to me. “Whether you’re here in Detroit or up in Marquette talking about mining, she listens intently and people feel a bond with her.”
Throughout the state, Whitmer is affectionately known as “Big Gretch.” The origin of this nickname isn’t clear, and Whitmer initially didn’t care for it. “There aren’t many women who want ‘Big’ in front of their nickname,” she shared with me. However, she embraced it, aligning with the ethos of her favorite movie, The Big Lebowski. She has adopted the film’s famous line, “The Dude abides,” as a personal motto for acceptance and the ability to adapt to imperfect circumstances.
Whitmer gained national attention during the pandemic, and while not all of it was positive—she was the target of a kidnapping plot by a heavily armed group of self-proclaimed militia men that the FBI arrested. Her lockdown policies faced intense and occasionally unruly opposition. She also had the displeasure of being dismissed by former President Donald Trump as “that woman from Michigan.” However, Whitmer wore this brush-off as a badge of honor, proudly displaying the quote on a T-shirt during TV appearances. During the 2020 election, Biden’s campaign team even vetted her as a possible running mate. At the time, Whitmer stated that she was content in her “dream job,” the typical response politicians give when they’re considering a new opportunity.
Whitmer is a mother to two college-aged daughters and resides in the governor’s mansion with her second husband, Marc Mallory, a dentist. Their family also includes two dogs: a labradoodle named Kevin and an Aussiedoodle named Doug. In a display of my personal bias, I expressed my support for people giving their pets human names. Perhaps I was attempting to flatter her into answering the question about running for president—to crack open the door just a little and spare us another cycle dominated by elderly candidates.
Clearly, Whitmer did not take the bait. Nevertheless, she continued to laugh and abide. “You know, it’s funny—’The Dude abides’ is a really wise philosophy,” she reflected during our brief conversation about films. “There are just some things you can’t control.”
I interpreted this as Whitmer leaving her options open and being willing to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. I highlighted the fact that Americans are eager for new national leaders. Whitmer did not dispute this. It’s also worth noting that Democrats have not nominated a fresh face since Barack Obama—and even he had to leapfrog over Hillary Clinton in 2008 in order for it to happen. Are Whitmer and her slogan, “Fight Like Hell,” prepared to challenge the entrenched political establishment, or is it just empty rhetoric?
I also mentioned that if anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can poll as high as 20% in the Democratic primary field, it’s evident that many Democratic voters are open to—and possibly desperate for—someone other than Biden on the ballot. Why not provide them with a serious alternative?
“You know, there are many immensely talented Democratic leaders across the country,” Whitmer responded. She
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
