Story perspectives

Whitmer Rules Out 2028 Run, Leaves Office 2026

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Whitmer told Fox 2 Detroit at the Mackinac Conference she will not run for president in 2028.
She will leave office at the end of 2026, take a personal hiatus, and has consulted former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Her statement arrives as Democratic governors Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker also denied 2028 presidential interest.

History

Historical Context

Tim Pawlenty, who chaired the National Governors Association in 2007-2008 and did not run for president in 2008, stayed in Minnesota politics, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced she will not seek the 2028 Democratic nomination, consulting former officials such as Pete Buttigieg and Paul Ryan. Their withdrawals illustrate a recent pattern of governors preferring state office over national campaigns.

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Story summary

Whitmer told Fox 2 Detroit at the Mackinac Conference she will not run for president in 2028.
She will leave office at the end of 2026, take a personal hiatus, and has consulted former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Her statement arrives as Democratic governors Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker also denied 2028 presidential interest.

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