Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said Thursday that she will not run for president in 2028, removing herself from what is already shaping up to be a crowded and highly competitive Democrat primary field.
“There will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028, I can tell you that,” Whitmer said during an interview with WJBK-TV at the Mackinac Policy Conference.
Whitmer, who is serving her second term as governor, said she plans to step away from politics for a period after leaving office rather than immediately pursuing another high-profile role.
“I’m looking forward to taking a breath and thinking about it, not jumping right into something,” she said.
The Michigan governor also revealed she has sought advice from several prominent political figures about her future, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
“That’s the advice everyone says: ‘Take a little bit of time,’ and so that’s what I’m going to do,” Whitmer added.
Whitmer’s announcement comes as speculation surrounding the 2028 Democrat presidential race continues to intensify, with several high-profile Democrats already emerging as early frontrunners.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg currently leads a hypothetical Democrat primary field, according to a new Emerson College Polling survey released Thursday. Buttigieg received 18 percent support among Democrat voters surveyed.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom followed closely behind with 16 percent support, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) placed third with 11 percent.
Ocasio-Cortez’s growing national profile has fueled increasing speculation about a possible White House run. The progressive New York lawmaker has become one of the Democrat Party’s most influential figures, particularly among younger voters and the party’s activist base.
Newsom has also been widely viewed as a likely presidential contender due to his aggressive national media presence and repeated clashes with Republican governors and conservative lawmakers.
None of the potential candidates have formally announced plans to run for president, though early maneuvering inside the Democrat Party is already underway as the post-Biden era begins to take shape.
Whitmer had long been viewed as a potential contender because of her national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, her success winning in a key battleground state, and her appeal to both establishment Democrats and some working-class voters.
Her decision not to run removes one of the party’s most prominent Midwestern voices from the conversation and could further consolidate support around other emerging Democrat contenders.
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