Mitchell Research & Communications
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47%
2028 Democratic presidential nominee
$171.5M
NOV 7, 2028Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Gretchen Whitmer is trading at 1% to win the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
Age54 years old (Aug 23, 1971)
GenderFemale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundGovernor of Michigan
EducationMichigan State University (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsGretchen Esther Whitmer is an American lawyer and Democratic politician who has served as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. She previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives (2001–2006) and the Michigan Senate (2006–2015), including as Senate Democratic leader. She earned her bachelor’s and law degrees from Michigan State University.
SourcesShowHide
michigan.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orggretchenwhitmer.comfr.wikipedia.orglegislature.mi.govthecandidate.comde.wikipedia.orgquery-main.wikidata.orgdiff.wikimedia.orgen.wikiquote.orgfacebook.comquery-scholarly.wikidata.orgeducation.nga.orgalumni.msu.eduarxiv.orgmichiganbusiness.orgapnews.commichamber.commackinac.orgwxyz.comwashingtonpost.comwglt.orgchedrickgreene.commlive.comgoogle.comnbcnews.compolitico.comnytimes.comclickondetroit.comfreep.commichigandaily.comhome.mirs.newsmichiganadvance.comdetroitnews.comdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgnga.orggovinfo.govcongress.govhistory.house.gov
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
As governor, Gretchen Whitmer has supported a mix of tax policies including targeted tax cuts and credits for individuals and small businesses, business incentives and R&D tax credits, and proposals to raise revenues from large corporations and new wholesale taxes to fund road infrastructure. Her record shows both support for using taxes and targeted incentives to promote economic development and proposals to increase certain business taxes to pay for state priorities, producing a mixed pattern on economy and tax policy.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to health coverage through government programs and strengthening the Affordable Care Act; has led state efforts to expand Medicaid (the Healthy Michigan Plan), increase Medicaid reimbursement and access to behavioral and telehealth services, and oppose federal Medicaid cuts. Emphasizes lowering costs, expanding mental and maternal health services, and protecting coverage for vulnerable residents.
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Immigration & Border
Supports welcoming immigrants and refugees, including state proclamations recognizing Immigrant Heritage Month and World Refugee Day, and backing state measures to integrate undocumented residents (e.g., supporting driver’s licenses). At the same time she has publicly supported federal actions to strengthen border security that make removals of those unlawfully present easier.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports broad reproductive freedom including access to abortion and medical reproductive care. As governor, she backed the constitutional protection of reproductive freedom in Michigan (Proposal 3), issued executive actions to implement those protections, and signed the Reproductive Health Act to repeal restrictive laws and protect medication abortion and IVF access.
Climate & Energy
Supports economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 with interim greenhouse gas reduction targets and has advanced state policies to transition Michigan’s electric grid and transportation toward clean energy, including targets for high shares of renewable/clean power and investments in electrification and clean-energy jobs.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded gun-safety measures including universal background checks, safe-storage requirements, and extreme risk protection orders while also investing in law enforcement and initiatives to remove illegal guns from communities. Has established a state task force on gun violence prevention and signed multiple bills to strengthen penalties for domestic abusers and keep guns out of the hands of people prohibited from possessing them.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 26, 2026
Gretchen Whitmer is in the news for endorsing Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic primary for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. She has also been making headlines over her 2028 presidential prospects, first saying she would not run and then softening that to "never say never." The coverage suggests she remains a prominent national Democrat, even as she says she is focused elsewhere for now.
michigan.gov+42
Articles
WEWashington Examiner2 months ago
Which Democrats have ruled out a 2028 presidential run?
Neutral
NNewsmax2 months ago
Whitmer Walks Back Remarks Ruling Out White House Bid
Neutral
TPThe Philadelphia Inquirer2 months ago
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she won’t run for president in 2028
Neutral
REReading Eagle2 months ago
Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan says she won't run for president in 2028
Neutral
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
2028 Democratic presidential nominee
Endorsers of Gretchen Whitmer for 2028 Democratic presidential nominee
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising