Gretchen Whitmer

	Gretchen Whitmer
	Michigan State Senate District 23
	Incumbent
	In office
	2007 - present
	Term ends
	January 1, 2015
Years in position	6
Party	Democratic
	Leadership
	Minority Leader, Michigan State Senate
	2011 – present
	Compensation
Base salary	$71,685/year
Per diem	$10,800 yearly expense allowance
	Elections and appointments
Last election	November 2, 2010
First elected	March 2006
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	2 terms (8 years)
	Prior offices
	Michigan House of Representatives
	2000 – 2006
	Education
Bachelor's	Michigan State University (1993)
J.D.	Detroit College of Law (1998)
	Personal
Birthday	August 23, 1971
Place of birth	Lansing, Michigan
Profession	Attorney
Websites
	Office website

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Gretchen Whitmer is a Democratic member of the Michigan State Senate, representing District 23 since January 1, 2007. She currently serves as State Senate Minority Leader. Whitmer won a special election in 2006 to join the Senate. Whitmer served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006.

Before her election to the Legislature, Whitmer was a Prosecutor for Ingham County and a Corporate Litigator for the Lansing based law firm of Dickinson Wright. During her time in the House, Whitmer served as a Policy Analyst.

Whitmer graduated from Michigan State with her Bachelor's Degree in 1993 and her Juris Doctorate degree in 1998.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Whitmer served on the following committees:

Michigan Committee Assignments, 2012
• Government Operations, Vice-chair

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Whitmer served on these committees:

Michigan Committee Assignments, 2011
• Government Operations, Vice-chair

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Whitmer served on these committees:

Michigan Committee Assignments, 2009
• Agriculture
• Education, Vice-chair
• Finance
• Judiciary, Vice-chair

Issues

Key votes of 2009-2010

Click below to see how this representative voted.
Super Speedway, Lawmakers voting on whether TO EXTEND A SPECIAL TAX PERK for a super speedway.
Driver Responsibility Fees, Lawmakers voting on whether TO IMPOSE 'driver responsibility fees.'
Crony Capitalism, Lawmakers voting on whether TO RESTRICT THE RIGHT of shareholders to sell their own stock.
Golf Carts, Lawmakers voting on whether TO SUBSIDIZE the production of electric vehicle batteries.
Home Court Disadvantage, Lawmakers voting on whether TO GIVE MORE TAXING POWER to local government in Kalamazoo so it can finance a taxpayer-subsidized sports arena.
Mandate Beer Keg Buyer’s Tags, Lawmakers voting on whether TO MANDATE beer keg buyer's tags.
Remonumentation of State Border, Lawmakers voting on whether to appropriate funds up to $500,000 for remonumentation of the Michigan-Indiana border.
Fire Safe Cigarettes, Lawmakers voting on whether TO BAN the sale of cigarettes that are not "fire safe."
Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs, Lawmakers voting on whether TO EXPAND DUTIES of and rename government's Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs.
Balancing Act, Lawmakers voting on a budget to CUT REVENUE SHARING PAYMENTS to local governments as a way to balance the state budget without raising taxes.
Balancing Act 2, Lawmakers voting on a cut of less than 3 percent to K-12 school aid payments so as to balance the state budget without tax increases.
A Good Tax Gone Bad?, Lawmakers voting on the Michigan Business Tax.
It’s From the Children, Lawmakers voting on whether to RAID $90 MILLION from the Michigan Higher Education Student Loan Authority.
Don’t Blame Canada, Lawmakers voting on whether TO BAN Canadian trash from Michigan landfills.
Left Behind, Lawmakers voting on whether TO FINANCE "No Worker Left Behind" with a 59.9 percent increase in general fund spending in the 2009 DELEG budget.
Politically Correct Capitalism, Lawmakers voting on whether to INCREASE SUBSIDIES for plug-in traction battery packs used in electric cars.
Politically Correct Capitalism 2, Lawmakers voting on whether to GIVE SUBSIDIES for Michigan film production.
Politically Correct Capitalism 3, Lawmakers voting on whether to INCREASE ELECTRIC CAR SUBSIDIES for a subsidiary of a Korean battery company.
Grapes of Wrath, Lawmakers voting on whether TO BAN home shipment of beer and wine to Michigan consumers.
Subsidize Manufacture of Electric Cars, Lawmakers voting on whether to authorize a refundable Michigan Business Tax credit for makers of plug-in traction battery packs used in electric cars.
Authorize Special Tax Breaks for Ethanol Gas Stations, Lawmakers voting on whether to authorize a non-refundable Michigan Business Tax credit equal to 30 percent of the costs incurred by a gas station to convert existing pumps and tanks, or acquire new ones that deliver E85 ethanol or biodiesel fuel.
Presidential Privileges, Lawmakers voting on whether to require state workers to either work on President's Day or take the day off as an unpaid holiday.

District 23

Whitmer represents Michigan Senate District 23. District 23 includes the Greater Lansing Area and Michigan State University^[1].

Elections

2014

See also: State executive official elections, 2014

Whitmer is considered a potential Democratic candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2014, when Republican incumbent Rick Snyder will be up for re-election.^[2]

2010

See also: Michigan State Senate elections, 2010

Whitmer won re-election to the 23rd District Seat in 2010. She had no primary opposition. He defeated Republican Kyle Haubrich in the November 2 general election.

Michigan State Senate, District 23 General election (2010)
Candidates		Votes
Gretchen Whitmer (D)		49,990
Kyle Haubrich (R)		28,133

2006

On November 07, 2006, Whitmer ran for District 23 of the Michigan State Senate, beating Frank Lambert. ^[3]

Whitmer raised $295,730 for her campaign.^[4]

Michigan State Senate, District 23
Candidates		Votes
Gretchen Whitmer (D)		64,404
Frank Lambert (R)		27,931

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, Whitmer received $128,953 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.^[5]

Michigan State Senate 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Gretchen Whitmer's campaign in 2010
Michigan Auto Workers	$8,000
Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association	$7,400
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association	$6,600
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan	$6,000
DTE Energy	$4,000
Total Raised in 2010	$128,953

2006

In 2006 Gretchen Whitmer collected $295,730 in donations. ^[6]

Her four largest contributors in 2006 were:

Donor	Amount
Committee to Elect Gretchen Whitmer	$20,000
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association	$12,675
Schauer 21st Century Fund	$11,000
Michigan Education Association	$10,000

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