Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of Michigan since 2019

Gretchen Esther Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is an American politician who is the 49th and current Governor of Michigan. She won the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]

Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer in 2024
49th Governor of Michigan
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
LieutenantGarlin Gilchrist
Preceded byRick Snyder
Prosecutor of Ingham County
In office
July 2, 2016 – December 31, 2016
Preceded byStuart Dunnings III
Succeeded byCarol Siemon
Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate
In office
January 12, 2011 – January 1, 2015
DeputySteve Bieda
Preceded byMike Prusi
Succeeded byJim Ananich
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
March 21, 2006 – January 1, 2015
Preceded byVirg Bernero
Succeeded byCurtis Hertel Jr.
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
January 1, 2001 – March 16, 2006
Preceded byLaura Baird
Succeeded byMark Meadows
Constituency70th district (2001–2003)
69th district (2003–2006)
Personal details
Born
Gretchen Esther Whitmer

(1971-08-23) August 23, 1971 (age 53)
Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Gary Shrewsbury (divorced)
Marc Mallory
(m. 2011)
Children2 (3 stepchildren)
EducationMichigan State University (BA, JD)
WebsiteGovernment website

Whitmer is a former Democratic member of the Michigan Senate and Senate Democratic Leader. Whitmer was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006.[2][3]

On January 3, 2017, Whitmer announced her plans to run for governor, making her among the first to announce.[4] On August 7, 2018, she became the Democratic nominee in the 2018 gubernatorial election. She won the general election on November 6, 2018.

In 2020, she delivered the Democrats' response to President Trump's 2020 State of the Union Address.

Whitmer was considered as a choice for running mate for Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, in his 2020 campaign for president.[5]

Political career

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Michigan Legislature

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Michigan House of Representatives

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Whitmer began her political career in 2001, when she was inaugurated to the Michigan House of Representatives. She served there until March 16, 2006. Five days later, she joined the Michigan Senate.

Michigan Senate

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Whitmer was inaugurated to the Michigan Senate on March 21, 2006, five days after leaving the Michigan House. She would continue serving through 2014. She spent the last four years in the Michigan Senate as Minority Leader.

Ingham County Prosecutor

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After the resignation of Stuart Dunnings III as the result of a scandal, Whitmer was unanimously chosen as his successor in the position of Prosecutor of Ingham County. She served their through the second half of 2016.

Governor of Michigan

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She was elected governor in 2018. She described herself as progressive, and has worked with progressive leaders in Michigan as governor.

On October 8, 2020, the FBI arrested 13 people for attempting to kidnap her and overthrow the state government. The suspects were tied to a far-right militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen.[6]

Personal life

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Early life

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Gretchen Esther Whitmer was born on August 23, 1971, in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan.

Personal life

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Whitmer married Gary Shrewsbery, with whom she had two children, before their divorce. In 2011, she married dentist Marc Mallory, who had 3 sons in his previous marriage. The family currenty lives in East Lansing.

References

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  1. Marans, Daniel (2018-08-08). "Gretchen Whitmer Wins Democratic Nomination For Governor Of Michigan". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  2. Michigan Legislative Service Bureau (2006). Michigan Manual 2005-2006. Lansing: Legislative Council, State of Michigan. p. 129. ISBN 1-878210-06-8. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  3. Michigan Senate Democrats (2007). "Michigan Senate Democrats: About Gretchen Whitmer". Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  4. Whitmer, Gretchen (January 3, 2017). "I'm ready—are you?". Medium. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  5. Burns, Alexander (2020-07-27). "Joe Biden's Vice-Presidential Pick: Who's in the Running?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  6. "Plans to kidnap Whitmer, overthrow government spoiled, officials say".