Whitmer Not Running For President In '28 . . . But 'Never Say Never'

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/28/2026) (MACKINAC ISLAND) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a television interview Thursday she would not be a presidential candidate in 2028, but then said during her keynote address at the Detroit Regional Chamber conference on Mackinac to “never say never” about her future.

During an interview with WJBK Fox 2 Detroit reporter Roop Raj, Whitmer stated, “I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028.”

However, during the question portion of her keynote address, Whitmer said she never thought that she would run for governor.

“I guess I should know better to say ‘never say never,’ but I don’t want any distractions as I wrap up my eight years as governor. We still have really important things to do, and I find all this talk about my future such a distraction from what I want to get done today,” Whitmer said.

The beginning of her last keynote address at her final Mackinac Policy Conference as governor of Michigan was a look back at her accomplishments, where she looked at five “f” words: Factories, Foundations, Finances, Fixing the Damn Roads, and Freedoms.

“That was five – so I guess I have no more F’s to give,” she said.

In other news, Whitmer announced an executive order creating a 16-member “Every Child Reads Champions Council” that would take data and create policy to help increase the literacy rates of kids.

“It’s understandable when we’re talking about our kids that we want immediate results, but literacy is a marathon, not a miracle. We’ve got to stay committed in order to be successful. We can’t change strategies every couple of years,” she said.

The promised Executive Order was not available on the governor's website by Thursday evening.

She said the leaders of the council she was creating would make sure the literacy work continues.

Whitmer also called on the legislature to get her a balanced budget by July 1, a subject that was immediately agreed to by state House and Senate leaders in a separate panel.

Whitmer said she wanted to see a few key issues represented in the budget, including funding to keep the housing competitiveness going in the state and the work being done on literacy that she promised in her State of the State address.

She ended her speech with a call for common ground and asked everyone to find someone they disagree with and work together. She took a humorous jab at Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah.

“We’re all Michiganders, and yes, even those who refer to themselves as Michiganians. We all love this state and want the best future for our kids,” she said.