Whitmer shares goals for Democratic Party, Michigan ahead of DNC address on Thursday

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is set to give a speech in primetime Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The governor said she plans to lay out the case for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris from the perspective of a swing-state governor — focusing her attention on independents and Republicans who are disenchanted with the direction of the GOP.

Whitmer’s national profile has been rising within the Democratic Party since 2020, and she’s been greeted warmly — often loudly — by crowds at events across Chicago this week.

Many other Michiganders have taken the convention stage earlier in the week, including U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee who will face Republican candidate Mike Rogers in November, will also be addressing the convention on Thursday.

I spoke with Gov. Whitmer ahead of her upcoming DNC speech on Thursday evening about the changes happening in the Democratic Party and what she plans to do when her term ends in two years.

Listen: Whitmer shares goals for Democratic Party, Michigan ahead of DNC address 

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Russ McNamara: Mallory McMorrow, Dana Nessel, Elissa Slotkin, yourself all speaking at the DNC — it seems like “those women from Michigan” are well represented at the DNC.

Gretchen Whitmer: I think so. You know, I think this is an exciting time, and we’re so fortunate to have so many prominent leaders that have got an opportunity to talk about our Michigan story. It’s exciting.

RM: How does that all tie in with Vice President Kamala Harris now being at the top of the ticket?

GW: Well, you know what? We are embarking on potentially a big new chapter in this country where women have the opportunity to lead. We’ve seen what can happen when women lead in Michigan — we work together, we solve problems, we work with low ego and just try to get things done. I’m proud to be here with my daughter so that they can see the diversity, the inclusion, the strength and the vision that this leadership is bringing to the country.

RM: How do you reach out to the mythical independent voter, or the people who are on the center right, trying to bring them into the fold — people who are maybe not necessarily happy with Donald Trump, but have voted for him possibly twice at this point?

GW: I think we stay focused on the fundamentals. That’s what unites us. That’s what we’ve done in Michigan. You don’t win an election by almost 11 points without a lot of people crossing over. And I think in large part, it’s because we listen to voters. We ask them, “What do you need?” When people say, “the roads,” we don’t ask are you a Republican or a Democrat? We just know that that’s a Michigan need, and that’s what we focus on. And so we find common ground by focusing on these fundamentals. When Vice President Harris talks about the opportunity economy, she’s not talking about opportunity for some. She’s talking about creating paths to prosperity for all, and that should be something that unites us.

RM: Will we have a united legislature by the time January rolls around? You like your sports analogies…how has it been playing with the lead and having a Democratic-controlled legislature the past two years, and how might that change if Republicans get control of the House?

GW: On my first term, I worked with all Republicans in the legislature leadership, and you know, I am grateful that I’ve got so many great partners in the legislature now we’ve been able to deliver on some really important things — whether it’s free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million Michigan kids, or common sense gun safety measures, or simply our climate agenda, or making sure that LGBTQ has full civil rights. This is, I think, a moment where we could see a swing, or maybe not, I’m not sure, but my oath is to the people of Michigan, my oath is to get my job done, and I’m always going to work with whomever is there.

RM: What are the plans for the legislature and your priorities heading into the fall?

GW: Well, you know, obviously a lot of them are going to be on the campaign trail quite a bit, but I want to continue the work that we’ve started with regard to economic development. We are seeing such tremendous growth in bringing supply chains home and advanced manufacturing, but there’s more work we need to do to make sure Michigan remains competitive, and that is at the top of my list.

RM: The SOAR fund — talking about diverting some of that towards public transit — do you see that as a positive, a step in the right direction? Or do you want to continue with the business incentives?

GW: I think it’s important. We’re working with the business community and labor organizations. It’s important that we’re building an economy that will grow — that makes us competitive — and that is about good paying jobs. And so the SOAR fund has been a tool, and R&D tax credit, we know that there are additional investments that we could make if we had some of the sharp skills and tools that other states bring to the table, and that’s why we want to keep honing what tools we have.

RM: You are getting a prominent speaking spot Thursday in front of the convention. You’ve been on a consistent rise over the past four years, ever since the COVID lockdown. You drew the attention of former President Trump. There’s been some sparring through the media, back and forth. Where do you go for here? I know you have two years left in your term…but where is the next step for you? What do you want?

GW: What I want is leaders who get things done, and don’t have a high ego and don’t feed into the divisive politics that I think are really corrosive in American politics today. I want to do this job for the next two years, and I don’t know what happens next, but I am grateful to be the governor of Michigan. I’m proud of the state of Michigan. I love our state and the people who call it home, and that will remain my focus for the next two years, and then maybe I’ll take a breather for a bit.

RM: Do you really want a breather? I know it’s been an intense eight years at that point, and you’ve had to endure more than many governors have. But is now the time to seize some momentum? Or are you just going to need like a gap year?

GW: I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. You know I’ve got three generations of my family in the state of Michigan. I never planned to leave. What public service or what service looks like in the future I cannot conceive of at the moment, but I do think it would be good to take a little bit of time. I’ve always wanted to go out west and see the national parks, just on a trip — not moving — but that’s something that is on my list of things to do in 2027.

RM: You’re a popular person around here at the DNC…do you have that opportunity to go out and be a normal person occasionally? How many concerts have you missed over the last six years because you really couldn’t?

GW: You know what I would love to return to normal life and enjoy my family…but I am grateful. I’m never going to complain about the hardships that come with this job or the opportunities that come with it. This is what I signed up for, even if it’s been a little more than any of us could have conceived six years ago. But I really feel very fortunate to be the governor of Michigan. I’m proud and grateful.

RM: I don’t like gotcha questions, but do you have a lion’s final record prediction?

GW: We’re going to win the Super Bowl. Boom.

Listen to Detroit Public Radio tonight at 9 p.m. for continuing coverage of the DNC.

Rick Pluta from the Michigan Public Radio Network contributed to this report. Use the media player above to listen to the interview with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.