By Theodore Bunker | Friday, 29 May 2026 10:31 AM EDT
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reversed her earlier comments on a potential 2028 presidential bid Thursday, telling reporters “Never say never” hours after stating she would not run for the White House.
The Democrat governor, who is barred from seeking a third term under Michigan’s term limits and will leave office in 2027, said she wanted to correct the record following remarks made during a morning interview with Fox 2 Detroit.
Whitmer stated: “You know, I never thought I would run for governor, so I guess I should know better than to say any of it. Never say never.”
Earlier that day, Whitmer had told Fox 2 Detroit she would not be among the candidates in the expected crowded field of Democratic contenders for the 2028 nomination.
“I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028,” Whitmer said.
The comments sparked speculation that Whitmer had formally ruled herself out of a race, though hours later she clarified that the exchange occurred after repeated questions about her political future and she is not currently making plans beyond her governorship.
Whitmer added: “At this juncture, I’ve got nothing to announce.”
She also said discussions about her political future remain a distraction from her work as governor. Whitmer, 54, acknowledged she has thought about what comes next after leaving office.
“I do think about it a bit,” Whitmer said. “I’ve got a lot of energy. I will be 55 when I leave office, so I want to have impact. I want to do good work.”
Whitmer noted that advisors have encouraged her to “take a little bit of time” before deciding on another campaign.
The governor has long been viewed as one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent rising figures and gained national attention during President Donald Trump’s first term, including when she delivered the Democratic response to his 2020 State of the Union address. In recent years, she has remained a high-profile voice within the party while winning two statewide elections in Michigan.
Speculation about Whitmer’s national ambitions intensified after President Joe Biden ended his 2024 reelection campaign and Democratic Party leaders searched for potential future standard-bearers. Whitmer declined to seek the party’s nomination in 2024 and endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin have also been mentioned as possible candidates for the party’s 2028 nomination.
For now, Whitmer said her focus remains on governing Michigan rather than making decisions about another campaign.
“I guess I’ll smile and say, ‘I’m going to stay focused’ and leave it at that,” Whitmer added.
