Gretchen Whitmer

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Gretchen Whitmer
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 23rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 21, 2006
Preceded by Virg Bernero
Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2011
Deputy Steve Bieda
Preceded by Michael Prusi
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 69th district
In office
January 1, 2003 – March 16, 2006
Preceded by Michael Murphy
Succeeded by Mark Meadows
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 70th district
In office
January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2002
Preceded by Laura Baird
Succeeded by Judy Emmons
Personal details
Born (1971-08-23) August 23, 1971
Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Michigan State University
Religion Christianity

Gretchen Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate and Senate Democratic Leader. She has represented the 23rd District since a special election in March 2006 to replace Virg Bernero, who was elected Mayor of Lansing the previous November. Previously, Whitmer was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006.[1][2] On November 5, 2010, her Democratic colleagues chose Whitmer to be the Senate Democratic Leader.

Career

Senator Whitmer was born in Lansing and has spent most of her life in East Lansing. She completed internships with the Office of Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings, III, the Honorable Anna Diggs Taylor, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the AFL-CIO.

Whitmer earned a BA degree in Communications and her law degree, magna cum laude, from Michigan State University.

Prior to her election to the Michigan House of Representatives, Whitmer was a corporate litigator specializing in administrative and regulatory law with the firm Dickinson Wright in Lansing, Michigan. She practiced administrative law before the Ingham County Circuit Court and the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Political career

State Senator Gretchen Whitmer was first elected to the State Senate in March 2006. Previously she served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. In the Senate, she serves on the following committees: Government Operations (ranking Democrat), Legislative Council and the Senate Fiscal Agency Board of Governors. As a State Representative, Whitmer served as the Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee for four years. Whitmer filed paperwork in October 2009 to run for the position of Michigan Attorney General.[3] However, she suspended her campaign for Michigan Attorney General in January 2010 after only four months, citing family concerns.[4]

On November 5, 2010, her Democratic colleagues chose Whitmer to be the Senate Democratic Leader.

Memberships

  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Ingham County Bar Association
  • Women’s Economic Club
  • The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
  • Ingham County Democratic Party

Electoral history

Michigan State Senate District 23 Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Gretchen Whitmer (Incumbent) 49,974 64.0 -5.8
Republican Kyle Haubrich 28,127 36.0 +5.8
Majority 21,847 28.0 -11.6
Turnout 78,101 100 -15.4
Democratic hold Swing -5.8
Michigan State Senate District 23 Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Gretchen Whitmer (Incumbent) 64,404 69.8 +16.4
Republican Frank Lambert 27,931 30.2 +16.4
Majority 36,473 39.5 +32.8
Turnout 92,335 100 +11.6
Democratic hold Swing +16.4

References

  1. ↑ Michigan Legislative Service Bureau (2006). Michigan Manual 2005-2006. Lansing, MI: Legislative Council, State of Michigan. p. 129. ISBN 1-878210-06-8. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 
  2. ↑ Michigan Senate Democrats (2007). "Michigan Senate Democrats: About Gretchen Whitmer". Archived from the original on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 
  3. ↑ Scott Davis (October 11, 2009). "Whitmer files papers to run for attorney general". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 
  4. ↑ Chris Christoff (January 20, 2010). "Sen. Whitmer to leave AG race". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2010-01-22. 

External links

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