Govs. Whitmer, Pritzker, Walz and Evers endorse Harris for president

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at an Lansing event announcing that a future expeditionary fast transport ship will be named “USS Lansing,” July 22, 2024 | Lucy Valeski

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday morning ended any speculation that she might seek to replace Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.

While wrapping an event in Lansing to announce that a future expeditionary fast transport ship will be named the “USS Lansing,” Whitmer’s Fight Like Hell political action committee issued a press release announcing she was endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. 

“Today, I am fired up to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States,” Whitmer said in the statement. “Vice President Harris has my full support. So Michigan, let’s get to work. We cannot let Donald Trump anywhere near the White House. Let’s go!”

In Lansing, Whitmer batted away questions about her joining the ticket as vice president.

“I’m not leaving Michigan,” she said.

She is set to be at another event in Southeast Michigan this afternoon along with U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.), who endorsed Harris on Sunday.

It has been a tumultuous 24 hours since Biden announced he was withdrawing his reelection bid, and then almost immediately endorsed Harris as his successor. Democrats across the country then quickly began to also endorse Harris, including Whitmer’s sister, Liz Whitmer Gereghty, a one-time New York congressional candidate.

Joining Whitmer in the endorsement announcement by fellow Midwestern Govs. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Tony Evers (D-Wis.). California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who have both been mentioned as future presidential hopefuls, endorsed Harris on Sunday.

Harris has not talked about a running mate, but there have been reports that Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper are in the mix.

There’s still been speculation about Whitmer as Harris’ VP pick by some, including and endorsement of that ticket from former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

However, GOP consultant Andrea Bitely, who was at the Monday morning event in Lansing, believes that is unlikely.

“I literally was just sitting 10 feet from her a few minutes ago,” Bitely told the Michigan Advance. “She’s not a vice president. She’s an executive. She’s presidential or bust in my opinion.”

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