Whitmer Rules Out 2028 Presidential Run at Mackinac Conference
Governor definitively ends speculation about White House run, citing advice to take time away from politics after term ends.
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN — Governor Gretchen Whitmer ruled out a run for president in 2028 during an interview Thursday morning at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, ending speculation about her national political ambitions.
Speaking with FOX-2 Detroit’s Roop Raj, Whitmer said she plans to take time away from politics after her gubernatorial term ends. “I’m also looking forward to getting a bit of a break and thinking about not jumping right into something,” Whitmer told the television station. “I’ve gotten counsel from people who have made the transition … and that’s the advice. Just take a little time. So that’s what I’m going to do.”
Decision Stands Despite Time Remaining
When pressed by Raj about the time until the 2028 election, Whitmer acknowledged the timeline but remained firm in her decision. “Well, of course, there’s time,” she said. “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.”
The announcement comes as Whitmer maintains strong approval ratings in Michigan, according to polling released at the policy conference. Her approval rating stands at 52.2% among those surveyed, while only 39% of voters disapproved of her job performance in the twilight months of her second term.
Approval Ratings Bucking Historical Trends
The polling results show Whitmer defying typical political gravity for second-term governors. According to the chamber that conducted the survey, the average net approval rating of governors in their second terms declines by 13 percentage points. Instead, Whitmer’s approval rating has increased more than 15 percentage points since the start of her governorship.
Whitmer has faced persistent questions about her presidential ambitions throughout her tenure as governor, particularly as she gained national prominence within the Democratic Party. Her decision to step away from national politics represents a notable choice for a governor with demonstrated electoral success and favorable polling numbers.
The governor’s announcement at the Mackinac Policy Conference, a major annual gathering of Michigan political and business leaders, provides clarity for Democratic Party officials and voters looking ahead to the 2028 presidential race. According to Whitmer, that race will proceed without her participation despite what she described as a “robust group of people” expected to seek the nomination.
