Many political pundits believe Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to be the 48th POTUS, but a new poll shows Democrats have better candidates in mind.
Whitmer garnered just 3% in an early 2028 presidential poll of 1,101 likely voters conducted by Echelon Insights Nov. 14-18, coming in seventh out of 14 potential Democratic contenders.
Those surveyed told pollsters they prefer far-left Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, or Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg over the Michigan governor.
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Vice President Kamala Harris garnered the most support among Democrats with 41%, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 8%, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 7%, Buttigieg and Walz at 6% and AOC at 4%.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker received 2%, as did Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore each received 1% support.
While Whitmer declined media requests for comment on the poll, her relentless focus on raising her national profile with her new book True Gretch, pursuit of social media fame through campaigns targeting Gen Z, and stops in numerous states as Harris’ campaign co-chair in 2024 has many convinced she’s angling for the White House in 2028.
Some of Whitmer’s closest political allies are also gushing over the governor’s potential run in the media.
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“I’ve had a front row seat to her leadership for these last six years,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who herself has penned a book ahead of her bid to replace the term-limited Whitmer in 2026, told NBC News over the weekend. “People love her, even if they disagree with her. She has that unique combination of grit and grace — a workhorse who genuinely cares about people and doesn’t back down from a fight. She has what it takes to bring people together and lead our country.”
Shortly after President-elect Donald Trump’s bruising victory over Harris on Nov. 5, folks began to weigh in on Whitmer’s political future in the wake of the red wave that also shifted control of the U.S. Senate to Republicans.
At least one insider posted to social media that he believes Whitmer is “happy as hell” Harris lost to Trump.
“There’s fighting going on within the Democratic Party, they’re just not saying nothing, right,” longtime Flint Democratic activist Arthur Woodson, ranted in a Facebook Live post. “Let me tell y’all something, Governor Whitmer happy as hell Vice President Harris lost, because it’s supposed to be Vice President Whitmer, not Vice President Harris.”
“That seat was stolen from her. (Former Michigan Democratic Rep.) Brenda Lawrence … and all them told Biden if you don’t pick Vice President Harris to run with you, we’re going to cause hell. He was strong armed into picking Vice President Harris,” Woodson said. “Whitmer is still furious about this. She really didn’t want to campaign, but she couldn’t show any hate because she probably could have gotten into the administration for the four years.”
“She didn’t want to show no hate, for real, but she kind of figured (Harris) wasn’t going to win,” Woodson said. “The person she thinks can win as president is Whitmer. Whitmer only think Whitmer can win. So why do I want to wait eight years, because if she loses all I have to do is wait four years” to run for president due to term limits on Trump.
On the Republican side, 37% of likely voters told Echelon Insights JD Vance is their top pick for the Republican Party nominee in 2028, followed by businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 9%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 8%, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, both at 5%.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin each received 1%.
Sixteen percent of Democrats told pollsters they were unsure about their 2028 favorite, while that percentage was 18% for Republicans surveyed.