Gretchen’s sister runs for Congress in New York as “Wicked Whitmer of the East”.

Michigan Governor’s Sister Announces Run for New York Congressional Seat

Boost for New York Democrats, but Baggage Comes with Whitmer Connection

Liz Gereghty, the sister of Democratic Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, has announced her candidacy for the New York congressional seat that Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney narrowly lost in November 2020. The seat is currently held by freshman representative Mike Lawler (R.), who unseated Maloney, then-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Gereghty’s connection to a powerful national figure in the party could be a boost to New York Democrats, who bore the party’s worst defeats in the 2022 midterms. However, the Whitmer connection also brings baggage. The governor has faced widespread criticism for her handling of the pandemic, particularly for lockdowns of schools and businesses. Michigan churches sued Whitmer in 2020 for a lockdown that the groups said violated the First Amendment. In March, Whitmer conceded that her lockdowns “in retrospect don’t make a lot of sense.”

Gereghty’s campaign announcement called out “extreme Republican leaders.”

• “Today, extreme Republican leaders in Congress—enabled by the current 17th District Congressman—are threatening our core rights, our safety and our economic future,” Gereghty said, pointing to abortion as an example.

Maloney was the first DCCC chair to lose a reelection bid in four decades, falling short by less than 2,000 votes.