LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat with a rising national profile, focused her recent address on reaching out to young men, a demographic that leaned significantly more conservative in the last election. Her speech highlighted the need for bipartisanship, a sentiment she shared shortly after attending a White House dinner with former President Donald Trump. Whitmer, who is seen as a possible presidential contender in 2028, is known for her advocacy on women’s rights, yet she made it clear that her outreach included young men specifically.
In her speech, Whitmer expressed concerns about young men lagging behind previous generations. In the most recent elections, many young men under 45 showed increased support for Trump, partly due to his economic policies. This trend was particularly notable among Black and Latino men, as indicated by AP VoteCast, a voting survey conducted nationwide.
Whitmer pointed out the educational and financial advancements women have made, such as higher enrollment rates in state programs providing tuition-free community college. In response to this gender gap, she announced plans to implement an executive order aimed at increasing young men’s participation in education and skill-training initiatives.
Republican House Speaker Matt Hall commented post-speech, remarking on Whitmer’s attempts to reconnect men with the Democratic Party. While recognizing her rhetorical strategies, Hall emphasized the importance of aligning actions with words.
Whitmer, who was instrumental in establishing reproductive rights in the state and is a proponent of women’s rights, reassured that she remains committed to equality for all individuals. “And to the women out there who are succeeding after decades of having the deck stacked against them, I see your resilience and I will never abandon my commitment to equal opportunity and dignity for everyone,” she stated.
With term limits in place, Whitmer is nearing the end of her tenure, marking the address as her second-to-last State of the State speech. Whitmer aims to use this platform to further her policy agenda while facing a divided Legislature, as Republicans have control of the Michigan House of Representatives. She emphasizes working together despite these political divides and recently signed bipartisan legislation concerning minimum wage alterations.
While collaboration is her guiding principle, some members of her party, such as Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, have criticized eagerness to work with the Trump administration. Nessel, among other democratic attorneys general, actively challenges the administration on constitutional grounds and warns against normalizing the current presidency.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a fellow Democrat, appreciates Whitmer’s spirit of collaboration but urges vigilance against certain policies associated with Trump, emphasizing the need to protect Michigan’s diverse population.
In her address, Whitmer advocated for legislation restricting cellphone use within schools and proposed taxing vape products. While Republicans are in favor of school cellphone restrictions, they oppose the vape tax initiative.
