Gretchen Whitmer

Rule Changes

Backed monitors as routine part of election process

The Justice Department placed federal election monitors at polling places in eight Michigan cities on Nov. 3: Detroit, Dearborn, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Lansing and Warren. About 71 went to Michigan as part of roughly 1,000 nationwide, the first time the department has sent monitors to all 50 states.

Updated 2 days ago

Built World

In office

The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan reopened its remodeled building at 1204 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue SW with a community open house on October 9. A $1 million state grant paid for plumbing, heating and cooling, roof and parking repairs, plus new offices and classrooms.

Updated Oct 29

Money Moves

Championing LIFT as the state's public-sector partner

Ford wants to buy from smaller suppliers, JPMorgan wants to lend to them, and Michigan wants them building within its borders; on September 29, the three launched Michigan LIFT to make that happen.

Updated Oct 18

Money Moves

As of October 2026: Announced the Reclaim the Rivers initiative

Michigan will spend $89 million from pollution settlements to strip decades of industrial contamination from the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers. Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Reclaim the Rivers initiative Thursday at Belle Isle, with money targeting PCB-heavy sediment and damaged wildlife habitat.

Updated Oct 2

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: Signed the two renter protection bills into law on 2026-09-22

Michigan landlords face new limits on fees they charge renters, and tenants get a clearer path to recovering security deposits, under two bills Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Sept. 22. The laws are the latest step in a years-long push by Michigan Democrats to cut the upfront cost of renting.

Updated Sep 26

Built World

As of September 2026: Pressed Trump to lift the stop-work order; her office confirmed the lifting on Sept. 3

Work is resuming on the $1.15 billion Brandon Road barrier after President Donald Trump lifted a stop-work order on September 3. The reversal followed a direct phone call from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who warned that juvenile silver carp had been found 80 miles from Lake Michigan.

Updated Sep 6

Built World

As of September 2026: In office; champion of the Rebuilding Michigan program

Michigan drivers get a holiday break from construction barrels. MDOT is lifting lane restrictions on 91 of its 156 active road projects, starting 3 p.m. Friday and running through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Updated Sep 4

Built World

As of July 2026: Committed Michigan as a funding partner

For more than a century, an artificial canal has linked the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. That link is how invasive carp could reach the Great Lakes. This week, crews lowered the first permanent piece of a barrier built to close that door.

Updated Jul 13

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Executive driver of shutdown effort

Two 20-inch oil pipelines have been pumping crude under the Straits of Mackinac since 1953, and Michigan has spent seven years trying to shut them down. On April 22, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the company defending the pipelines, Canadian operator Enbridge, gets to fight that battle in federal court, not the state courthouse Michigan picked.

Updated May 31

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Signed PA 233 into law; facing legislative and legal pushback

For decades, Michigan townships controlled solar and wind siting until November 2023, when Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act 233, empowering the Michigan Public Service Commission to override stricter local zoning rules. Nearly two years in, the law is operational with five projects under review, locals filing lawsuits, and counties like Huron rewriting ordinances to keep their seat at the table.

Updated May 29