Gretchen Whitmer
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 23rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 2006
Preceded by	Virg Bernero
Personal details
Born	(1971-08-23) August 23, 1971 (age 40) Lansing, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Christianity

Gretchen Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate and Senate Democratic Leader. Whitmer has represented the 23rd District since a special election in March 2006 to replace Virg Bernero, who was elected Mayor of Lansing the previous November. Previously, Whitmer was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006.^[1][2] Whitmer filed paperwork in October 2009 to run for the position of Michigan Attorney General.^[3] However, she suspended her campaign for Michigan Attorney General in January 2010 after only four months citing family concerns.^[4]

Career[link]

Senator Whitmer was born in Lansing and has spent most of her life in East Lansing. She completed internships with the Office of Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings, III, the Honorable Anna Diggs Taylor, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the AFL-CIO.

Whitmer earned a BA degree in Communications and ultimately her law degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Michigan State University.

Prior to her election to the Michigan House of Representatives, Whitmer was a corporate litigator specializing in administrative and regulatory law with the firm Dickinson Wright in Lansing, Michigan. She practiced administrative law before the Ingham County Circuit Court and the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Political career[link]

State Senator Gretchen Whitmer was first elected to the State Senate in March 2006. Previously she served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. In the Senate, she serves on the following committees: Government Operations (ranking Democrat), Legislative Council and the Senate Fiscal Agency Board of Governors. As a State Representative, Whitmer served as the Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee for four years.

On November 5, 2010, her Democratic colleagues chose Whitmer to be the Senate Democratic Leader.

Memberships[link]

• State Bar of Michigan
• Ingham County Bar Association
• Women’s Economic Club
• The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
• Ingham County Democratic Party

Electoral history[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Michigan Senate - Gretchen Whitmer official government website
  • Capitol Watch with Senator Gretchen Whitmer with Guest Robert Stephenson
  • Capitol Watch with Senator Gretchen Whitmer with Guest Robert Emmerson
  • Floor Statements video clips
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Gretchen Whitmer (MI) profile
• Follow the Money - Gretchen Whitmer
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions
• Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus
• Michigan Liberal - SD23

Rebekah Lynn Warren (born November 25, 1971) is an American Democratic politician from Ann Arbor, Michigan, representing the 18th District of the Michigan Senate since January 1, 2011. She was elected to this position on November 2, 2010, beating Republican opponent John Hochstetler, 65.5% to 34.5%.^[1] Previously, she served two-terms as State Representative for Michigan's 53rd District, from 2007 to 2010.

Background[link]

Warren was raised in Owosso, Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan, majoring in political science. In 1993 she joined the staff of State Representative Mary Schroer of Ann Arbor, Michigan and later that of State Representative Hubert Price of Pontiac, Michigan. From 1999 to 2006 she was the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Michigan, the state affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

House of Representatives[link]

Rebekah Warren waves to crowd in 2011 Ypsilanti Independence Day Parade

She was first elected to a two-year term in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2006 and subsequently reelected in 2008. Warren chaired the House Great Lakes and Environment Committee since and sat on the Judiciary Committee, the Tax Policy Committee, and the Oversight and Investigations Committee. She also co-chaired the Michigan BioTech Caucus with Republican Senator Randy Richardville.

Political views[link]

Warren is a progressive Democrat, subscribing to tenets of social equity, environmental conservation and liberal fiscal policies.

Women's rights[link]

Warren is an ardent supporter of gender equity and has championed abortion rights. In 2005 she was recognized for her leadership by the National Women's Political Caucus of Michigan with their annual Millie Award. NOW of Michigan named her "Legislator of the Year" in 2009.

She has sponsored or cosponsored legislation to prevent pay discrimination, provide emergency contraception, extend family medical leave to adopting parents, and provide support and protections for sexual assault survivors.[1]

Environmental protection[link]

Environmental issues topped Warren's agenda in the state legislature in 2007-2008^{[citation needed]}. She championed the passage of the Great Lakes Compact and associated legislation to govern withdrawals of the state's groundwater. The Center for Michigan touted the package as "the most important accomplishment to come out of the Michigan legislature this year."^[2]

Education[link]

Warren and mother-in-law Alma Wheeler Smith introduced legislation in 2009 to provide free college tuition for Michigan residents ^[3] by raising the state income tax.

2010 state senate race[link]

In 2010, Warren competed with fellow Democrat Pam Byrnes for the Democratic nomination for the 18th Michigan Senate seat to succeed Liz Brater. Five days before the primary election, an article in a Michigan newspaper revealed that ads for Byrnes and attacking Warren were financed by a disguised right-wing Political Action Committee funded by Republican leaders including Richard (Dick) DeVos. The Great Lakes Education Project PAC promotes the privatization of schools and lobbies for the reduction of funding to public education.^[4]

Personal life[link]

Warren is married to Washtenaw County Commissioner Conan Smith and is the daughter-in-law of Alma Wheeler Smith.^[5]

References[link]

1. ^ http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/10GEN/07018000.html
2. ^ Philip Power, "Huge Breakthrough in Lansing" Center for Michigan, 27 Jun 2008.
3. ^ Tim Martin, "Plan would boost income tax to pay Mich. tuition" Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2009.
4. ^ Stanton, Ryan J. "Group questions why right-wing Republican group is behind ads supporting Democrat Pam Byrnes" annarbor.com July 27, 2010
5. ^ Judy McGovern, "08 election another milestone for political family," Ann Arbor News, 08 Nov. 2008.

External links[link]

• Michigan Senate - Rebekah Warren Official Michigan Senate Site
• Rebekah Warren for State Representative, Official Campaign Site
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Rebekah Warren (MI) profile
• Michigan Liberal - HD053
• Michigan Democratic Party