Michigan’s declining population has spurred Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration to market the state to young people. Rather than focusing on young couples seeking a new environment to raise a family, however, the governor promotes the state as a haven for late-term abortions and LGBTQ+-friendly communities.
In her post on X (formerly Twitter), the governor announced the new website themichiganlife.org. Among the benefits the governor boasts about in the brief video are the state’s openness to the LGBTQ+ agenda as well as some of the most progressive abortion policies in the nation.
All I'm sayin' is, Michigan is clearly the place to be. 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/okvJJIYrBC
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) October 24, 2023
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“Look, I’m biased,” Whitmer says. “Michigan is the best state in the country if you are a young person thinking of where to start your career, your family, or your business. Come to Michigan because why would you go to the East Coast or West Coast when you can come to the fresh coast!”
After she gives the web address to themichiganlife.org, Whitmer adds: “We’ve got a little something for everyone. In Michigan. You can get a great job, have a great cost of living, and live a great life. Also, we protect your fundamental freedoms to make your own decisions about your body and be who you are.”
According to the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, the state’s population didn’t keep up with the rest of the nation during the first decade of this century. Whereas the U.S. population grew at 7.5%, it only grew 2.0% in Michigan during the same period.
The following decade – 2010 to 2020 – witnessed Michigan’s population growth fall to 46th slowest in the nation. Between 2020 and 2022, Michigan was one of 19 states experiencing population decline.
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The decline is attributed to low birth rates and outbound migration. Additionally, Michigan’s population is the 14th oldest in the nation. The MCDA predicts the state’s residents between the prime working ages of 25 to 54 will only reach 37% of the total population even “in a net positive migration forecast.”
The governor didn’t explain how abortions and same-sex relationships might help abate the state’s population decline.