This article will answer every question you have about Gretchen Whitmer. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about her.
- What does Gretchen Whitmer do for a living?
- Who are Gretchen Whitmer’s parents and siblings?
- What are Gretchen Whitmer’s interests and hobbies?
- Is Gretchen Whitmer married or does she have a bodyfriend?
- Does Gretchen Whitmer have any children?
- Where is Gretchen Whitmer now?
- How tall is Gretchen Whitmer?
- How much money does Gretchen Whitmer earn?
- What is Gretchen Whitmer’s net worth?
N/B: Please read the entire post to have all your questions answered.
Who is Gretchen Whitmer?
Gretchen Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) American lawyer, politician, and who served as the 49th governor of Michigan. She served from 2001-2006 in the Michigan House of Representatives.
She was elected as the governor in 2018, during the 2018 gubernatorial election. In the 2018 election, she was facing the Republican nominee Bill Schuette, Attorney General. Moreover, during the campaign, she focused on health and infrastructure. She was chosen to deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union Address in February 2020. The Federal Bureau of Investigation foiled a militia group’s kidnapping attempt against her on October 8, 2020. Moreover, Whitmer has been one of the Democratic National Committee’s vice-chairmen since January 2021.
Career
House of Representatives
In the 1990s, she unsuccessfully runs for the Michigan House of Representatives. After that, she tried again in 2000 and this time round she was elected into office as the 23rd legislative district. As a result of her good work, she was again reelected in 2002 and 2004.
State Senate
In November 2005, Virg Bernero was elected as the mayor of Lancing. Following, his election, Whitmer replaced him after she won the 2006 special election. In November, she was elected to a full term, and she was re-elected in 2010. Whitmer was overwhelmingly elected as the Senate Democratic Leader in 2011, making her the first woman to lead a party caucus in the Senate. However, she was unable to seek reelection in 2014 due to term restrictions, and she departed office in 2015.
In addition, Whitmer received national recognition in 2013, when she discussed her experience of being sexually assaulted. She was narrating the story in a debate where they arguing about abortion rights. Specifically for victims of rape, in her argument, she said victims should be allowed to abort pregnancies that result in rape.
How Old Is Gretchen Whitmer?
She was born on August 23rd, 1971, and currently, she is aged 49 years old
Gretchen Whitmer Family
Who are His Parents?
She was born in Lancing, Michigan to Sharon H. “Sherry” Reising and Richard Whitmer. Furthermore, both of her parents were lawyers. Her father was leading the state department of commerce under Governor William Milliken. In addition, he was also the president and the CEO of Blue Shield of Michigan from 1988 and 2006. Moreover, her mother worked as an assistant attorney general under Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley. However, her parents divorced while she was still 10 years, leading to their relocation to Grand Rapids.
Does She Have Siblings?
She has two siblings Richard and Liz.
Gretchen Whitmer Education
She enrolled in Forest Hills Central High School, Just outside Grand Rapids. After that, she graduated with a BA in communication from the Michigan State University in 1993. She then joined Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University, where she graduated with JD in 1998.
Gretchen Whitmer Husband
Currently, she is happily married to Marc P Mallory, a dentist. The two got married in 2011.
Divorce
Initially, she was married to Gary Shrewsbury, unfortunately, the couple divorced.
Gretchen Whitmer Kids
Together with her first husband, they share two kids, and also she is a stepmother to her second husband’s kids from her previous marriage.
Ingham County Prosecutor
The Judge of Michigan 30th, Judicial Circuit Court announced that Whitmer had been appointed to serve as the Ingham County Prosecutor. This decision was reached after Stuart Dunning III was detained and charged with 11 counts of involvement with a prostitute and willful neglect of duty. In addition, in a letter dated March 29, 2016, Dunning had announced that he would resign starting July 2.
On June 21, 2016, Whitmer was sworn in as prosecutor by Ingham County Circuit Court Chief Judge Janelle Lawless. She stated that her major priority during her six-month appointment would be to establish whether any other officials in the prosecutor’s office were aware of Dunnings’ alleged crimes. In addition, she stated that she was going to improve the way the agency handled domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
On July 22, 2016, Whitmer presented an 11-page report detailing whether Dunnings’ alleged illegal activities had an impact on cases handled by the agency. However, according to the report, employees “were never instructed to compromise a case or look the other way,”. She went ahead and said she had “complete trust that whatever problem that had occurred in our office went with Mr. Dunnings.” Whitmer’s time as governor ended on December 31, 2016.
On July 22, 2016, Whitmer presented an 11-page report detailing whether Dunnings’ alleged illegal activities had an impact on cases handled by the agency. However, according to the report, employees “were never instructed to compromise a case or look the other way,”. She went ahead and said she had “complete trust that whatever problem that had occurred in our office went with Mr. Dunnings.” Whitmer’s time as prosecutor ended on December 31, 2016.
Gubernatorial Seat.
2018 election
Whitmer declared he bid to run for the 2018, Michigan gubernatorial race on January 3, 2017. Whitmer was elected as the Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018. In the Democratic primary, she won all 83 counties in the state.
In July 2018, Republican politicians accused Whitmer of endorsing the anti-ICE campaign. However, Whitmer denied the allegations. She stated that if elected, she will focus on the state’s “fundamentals,” such as schools, roads, and water infrastructure.
Whitmer was facing a Republican nominee Bill Schuette, a term-limited attorney general. Moreover, on November 12, 2018, the two met for a debate at Grand Rapids at WOOD-TV. After that, they held another debate at WDIV studios in Detroit on October 24. On November 6, she beat Bill Schuette by nearly a 10 point margin.
Tenure
As a governor, she describes herself as a progressive Democrat who can work with legislators from different political perspectives. Moreover, as a governor one of her motives was to fix the road. However, her previous post-election plan to fund road repairs with a 45% gallon gas tax increase was opposed by 75% of Michigan voters. Moreover, the voters included majorities of both Democrats and Independents.
Democratic members in Michigan’s Republican-controlled legislature overwhelmingly opposed the idea. The plan would have roughly quadrupled the state’s gas tax, potentially making it the highest in the country.
Moreover, her first budget earmarked several billions of dollars for investment in infrastructure. Whitmer stained with the Republicans-controlled legislature to pass a budget and made several concessions.
During Whitmer’s tenure as governor, the gubernatorial race and national discourse centered on healthcare. She was the only Democratic contender who did not support a single-payer healthcare system throughout the election. Moreover, as governor, she has prioritized women’s health and Medicaid expansion.
The Edenville Dam finally gave way in May 2020, after a long wait for an assessment on its safety criteria. Whitmer went on and authorized the EGLE to conduct an inquiry, which “state Republicans, flooding victim groups, and dam safety experts” blasted as basically investigating itself.
Gretchen Whitmer Height
She stands on average height of 5feet 9inches and weighs 64kg
Gretchen Whitmer Net Worth
Her net worth is estimated to be around $5million and still growing significantly.