Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) announced that she will not run for president in 2028, concluding speculation regarding her potential candidacy in a competitive Democratic primary. In an interview with Fox 2 Detroit, Whitmer stated, "I will not be one of them in 2028. I can tell you that."
As she approaches the end of her second term, which concludes this year due to term limits, Whitmer's decision comes amid discussions of other prominent Democrats, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who are also considered potential candidates for the 2028 election.
Whitmer has been viewed as a strong candidate due to her popularity in Michigan, a battleground state that President Donald Trump won by 1.4% in the 2024 election. A poll conducted by the Detroit Regional Chamber in early May indicated that she had a 52.2% approval rating among Michigan voters.
Her bipartisan efforts have contributed to her popularity, although she faced criticism from some Democrats after a 2025 speech where she advocated for finding common ground with Trump. Whitmer emphasized the importance of being involved in discussions, stating, "If you’re not in the room and you’re not a part of the conversation, you can’t assume your priorities are going to get met."
While Whitmer has ruled out a 2028 bid, other Democratic governors, including Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), JB Pritzker (D-IL), and Andy Beshear (D-KY), have not dismissed the possibility of running for the presidency. In her recent interview, Whitmer mentioned that she is contemplating her future and seeking advice from others who have transitioned from elected office to private life.
