LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — It is unclear what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plans to do after her ultimate time period as Michigan governor ends in 2028, however rumors proceed a couple of attainable run for president.
Within the 2024 election, Whitmer was on the shortlist to switch former President Joe Biden or to function a working mate to former Vice President Kamala Harris, who finally selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Michigan resident, was additionally on that shortlist.
Following Whitmer’s speech Wednesday on the Empire Membership of Canada in Toronto, her 2028 plans got here up once more in an interview with Canadian journalist Steve Paikin.
“I got a big job right now to stay focused on, and I’m going to do that,” Whitmer mentioned. “I don’t want to take my eye off the ball and go out having missed something, having lost something, having a catastrophe happen under my watch.”
GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 29: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stands with officers throughout a press convention on the Grand Blanc Township Police Division following a capturing and fireplace on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 29, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The suspect crashed his car into the church on the morning of September 28, began capturing and set the church on fireplace. No less than 4 individuals have been killed and eight wounded. The gunman was killed by police. (Photograph by Emily Elconin/Getty Photographs)
She added, “I don’t know if I need to be the main character in the next chapter, but I want to have a hand in writing it, and I think I’ve got an important vantage point as the governor of an important swing state. I anticipate helping, but I don’t know if I’m going to be the person.”
Earlier that day, in a virtually 20-minute speech, Whitmer mentioned the U.S.-Canada relationship and mentioned, “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot with a chaotic national tariff policy.”
“The Canadian-American relationship was built over generations, and the amount of damage that has been done at such a small period of time is just so incredibly disheartening and destructive,” she mentioned.
The Empire Membership of Canada, the place Whitmer spoke, is a speaker discussion board based in 1903.
Since Trump’s time period started earlier this yr, some Canadians have boycotted American merchandise following tariff threats and financial impacts. Canadian followers have additionally booed throughout the U.S. nationwide anthem at sporting occasions, together with a February Pink Wings-Canucks NHL sport in Vancouver.
Journey information from earlier this yr confirmed fewer Canadians touring into Michigan. A drop in guests might have an effect on Michigan’s tourism economic system, which generates greater than $360 million from Canadians annually.
Whitmer is predicted to talk at a management summit Sunday in Québec at 9 a.m.
