Senate Democrats elect Whitmer as new leader
Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) was chosen Nov. 4 by her Democratic colleagues as the next Senate Democratic Leader, to start in January. Whitmer is dedicated and determined to continue the Senate Democrats’ efforts to rebuild our state and lay the groundwork for the future of Michigan.
“While there will be a lot of changes in the Capitol, the priorities of the Michigan Senate Democrats will be the same, and we have a lot of talented individuals coming in who will fight harder than ever to see that they are addressed,” said Whitmer. “I am eager to work with anyone who is earnestly ready to roll up their sleeves and make the tough decisions necessary to right Michigan’s ship for the long-term. I hope the new governor and in-coming legislators will bring an open mind and a cooperative style to move us forward, and get past the partisanship, gimmicks and games that have been so problematic these last four years.”
The Michigan Senate Democrats are the first legislative caucus to hold their leadership elections for the upcoming session, and will be unified from the start. Senator Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) was also named Senate Democratic Floor Leader.
Whitmer is the first woman elected to a leadership position in either caucus of the Michigan Senate. Being elected to the Senate in a special election in March of 2006, Whitmer will also be the Dean of the Senate in the next term as the longest-serving sitting Senator. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Whitmer served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. In the Senate, she currently is the Ranking Democrat on the Judiciary and Education Committees, and also serves on the Finance and Agriculture Committees.
“I look forward to working with my colleague Senator Hunter along with Senators Anderson and Gleason and the talented incoming members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to move Michigan forward,” she said.
Whitmer was born and raised in Michigan. She grew up in East Lansing, and earned both her undergraduate degree in Communications and her law degree—graduating magna cum laude—from Michigan State University. Prior to her election to the Michigan House of Representatives, Whitmer was an attorney with Dickinson Wright in Lansing.
Editor’s note: Whitmer was profiled in the 9/29/2010 edition of the Grand Rapids Legal News.
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