Whitmer's new DGA role raises new questions about her political future
Governor Gretchen Whitmer returned to the national stage this week, even if she insists she’s not looking for a bigger, brighter spotlight.
Her unanimous selection this past weekend as the next vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association puts her right in the middle of the party’s national strategy-setting heading into the high stakes 2026 midterm elections. DGA vice chair is no sinecure. It’s a real role with real responsibilities: fundraising, advising campaigns, and traveling the country to support Democratic governors and candidates.
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a flurry of reporting that paints a complicated picture: Whitmer, the governor who’s been quietly pulling back from national attention. Whitmer, the Democrat Donald Trump apparently likes working with. Whitmer, the potential 2028 presidential contender who may or may not actually want that job.
It’s all to say, the new DGA position comes as Whitmer is sending mixed - or maybe just carefully calibrated - signals about her political future.
https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2025-12-12/whitmers-new-dga-role-raises-new-questions-about-her-political-future