{"id":2562059,"date":"2026-02-02T08:55:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T13:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whitmer-celebrates-bipartisan-work-in-pre-midterm-elections-message\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T08:56:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T13:56:03","slug":"whitmer-celebrates-bipartisan-work-in-pre-midterm-elections-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whitmer-celebrates-bipartisan-work-in-pre-midterm-elections-message\/","title":{"rendered":"Whitmer celebrates bipartisan work in pre-midterm elections message"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhitmer-celebrates-bipartisan-work-in-pre-midterm-elections-message%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2562059&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer launched a Substack to reflect on politics and lay out plans to help Democrats ahead of upcoming elections. In her first post she highlighted bipartisan accomplishments from her 25-year political career,including pushing for michigan\u2019s 2013 Medicaid expansion (the Healthy Michigan Plan) that has extended coverage to more than a million residents. Whitmer recounted serving in the Michigan House (2001\u20132006) and Senate (2006\u20132015) before becoming governor in 2019, and said her bipartisan upbringing informs her focus on pragmatic, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reality-bites-the-democrats\/\" title=\"Reality Bites the Democrats\">kitchen-table issues<\/a> rather than purely partisan fights.<\/p>\n<p>Though not on the ballot this year, she said she will work to build a strong Democratic bench for 2026, recruiting and training candidates and helping in 36 gubernatorial races this November; her team has already recruited nearly 4,000 people to run. Whitmer is vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association through 2026 and said she expects to play a behind-the-scenes role in any future presidential effort rather than run herself now, urging Democrats not to give in to anger or apathy and to keep building common ground at the local level.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Whitmer celebrates her bipartisan achievements in pre-midterm elections message<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2482633\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gretchen-whitmer\/\">Gretchen Whitmer<\/a> (D-MI) launched a new Substack blog on Monday to reflect on the current state of American politics and offer hope to her party ahead of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\">midterm elections<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n<p>In her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/gretchenwhitmer.substack.com\/p\/the-way-forward-in-2026\">first blog post<\/a> in a newly launched Substack, she celebrated her bipartisan achievements since she took office as a state lawmaker in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\">Michigan<\/a> 25 years ago. She played a significant role in lobbying her colleagues to pass a Medicaid expansion law, called the Healthy Michigan Plan, in 2013 under then-Gov. Rick Snyder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442386\/trump-endorse-john-sununu-new-hampshire-senate\/\">Trump endorses &#8216;America First Patriot&#8217; John Sununu in New Hampshire Senate primary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442173\/christian-menefee-wins-texas-special-election-house-seat\/\">Christian Menefee wins Texas special election for House seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442013\/democrats-challenge-fitzpatrick-pa-01\/\">Who are the Democrats running to challenge Fitzpatrick in PA-01?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Some of her Democratic peers were hesitant to pass the bill because they &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t want to hand the other team the win,&rdquo; she said, but she didn&rsquo;t want to let the partisan divide get in the way.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Over one million Michiganders have <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >received health care coverage<\/a> because we did the right thing instead of playing for a scoreboard that doesn&rsquo;t actually exist,&rdquo; she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Before becoming governor in 2019, Whitmer served in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015 and the Michigan House from 2001 to 2006. She entered politics after an internship at the Michigan State Capitol, following her father&rsquo;s recommendation. She initially planned to become a sports broadcaster.<\/p>\n<p>Whitmer said she was raised in a &ldquo;bipartisan household,&rdquo; which is why she&rsquo;s committed to bringing together both sides of the aisle on common issues. She explained this isn&rsquo;t being done at the national level, with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> in power.<\/p>\n<p>That is why she&rsquo;s setting herself up to help the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\">Democratic Party<\/a> in its quest to win big in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">2026 elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not on the ballot this year, but I will be working hard to elect a strong bench of candidates in 2026 across the country who are ready to stop the chaos and get stuff done,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Michigan is one of the toughest states to win, and I&rsquo;m proud that we won statewide twice by double digits. That wasn&rsquo;t dumb luck,&rdquo; she added, referencing her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-whole-noisy-identity-left-former-democratic-strategist-james-carville-dissects-his-own-party\/\" title=\"\u2018This Whole Noisy Identity Left\u2019: Former Democratic Strategist James Carville Dissects His Own Party\">election wins<\/a> as governor. &ldquo;We went to all 83 counties during both of my campaigns. We spent time in the reddest parts of the state where Democrats typically didn&rsquo;t bother showing up, and we stayed focused on the kitchen-table issues without compromising our values. I talked so much about &lsquo;fixing the damn roads&rsquo; that people were calling me &lsquo;that roads lady&rsquo; long before anyone was calling me &lsquo;that woman from Michigan.&#8217;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Whitmer&rsquo;s second and final term ends in January 2027. She is also the vice chairwoman for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-governors-association\/\">Democratic Governors Association<\/a> through the 2026 election cycle before she leaves office.<\/p>\n<p>The governor revealed her focus will be on helping elect Democrats in 36 gubernatorial races this November. Additionally, she will be recruiting and training future candidates across the nation. Her team has already recruited nearly 4,000 people to run for office.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So if I can offer one final thought, it&rsquo;s this. Don&rsquo;t check out. Don&rsquo;t let your anger become apathy. Don&rsquo;t convince yourself that things can&rsquo;t get better,&rdquo; she wrote toward the end of her blog post. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been in more schools, hospitals, factories, and living rooms than I can count, and I have seen time and time again that we are not as divided as our politics. We will find a way forward, together.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4430526\/michigan-senate-special-election-bellwether\/\">MICHIGAN&rsquo;S OVERLOOKED STATE SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION COULD BECOME AN EARLY BELLWETHER FOR 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As of now, Whitmer doesn&rsquo;t intend to run for the presidency in 2028. She has expressed uncertainty about a possible <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> bid, although she hasn&rsquo;t ruled out the possibility. Still, she has said she&rsquo;s satisfied with assuming a behind-the-scenes role in assisting a Democratic presidential nominee.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if I need to be the main character in the next chapter, but I want to have a hand in writing it,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3833587\/gretchen-whitmer-shies-away-2028-presidential-bid\/\">said<\/a> last fall. &ldquo;And I think I&rsquo;ve got an important vantage point as the governor of an important swing state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Whitmer also opted out of the running for Vice President Kamala Harris&rsquo;s running mate in 2024, saying she would be more valuable running the campaign behind the scenes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whitmer touts bipartisan wins before midterms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2562060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26021350956064.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5118,32517,34250],"class_list":["post-2562059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bipartisanship","tag-gretchen-whitmer","tag-midterm-elections"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26021350956064.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2562059"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2562063,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562059\/revisions\/2562063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2562060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2562059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2562059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2562059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}