Exclusive: Gretchen Whitmer on campaigning for David Crowley in Wisconsin 

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is stumping for the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor David Crowley in Madison on Sunday. 

Gov. Tony Evers and state Rep. Francesca Hong will also speak at the event, as Democrats look to turn the page on the primary and focus on MAGA lackey Tom Tiffany. 

There are a lot of similarities between the Midwestern states. Each experienced a highly contested Democratic primary in recent days that left much of the voter base split. 

In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens in the U.S. Senate primary. El-Sayed was the more progressive candidate that supports legislation like Medicare-for-All. Stevens, who developed a bit of a national image herself because of the race, has gone on the stump for El-Sayed. 

In Wisconsin, the democratic socialist candidate for governor barely lost the primary but Hong remained focused on turning her voters into Crowley voters in November, despite some apprehension. 

Michigan and Wisconsin chose different paths, but Whitmer says the task at hand is the same — defeat the Republicans.  

“It is life or death for some people,” she told the Milwaukee Courier on Sunday. 

The popular term-limited Michigan governor provided an interview to the Courier ahead of Sunday’s rally. Here’s what she had to say. 

Gretchen Whitmer on the state of politics in the Midwest 

What brought you to Wisconsin?

I’m here for David. I am vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association. I’m also a fellow Midwesterner and so I’ve spent a fair amount of time in your beautiful state with my good friend Tony Evers. It’s important to uplift this race. 

He’s a phenomenal candidate. It’s a very important race this November as Wisconsin and Michigan are always top of mind for the country. I wanted to be here to support him because I think he’s the kind of leader who understands what Wisconsinites are living, what their lives are and wants to find common ground. He’s a common sense leader and we, frankly, need more of those in leadership positions like governor. 

How do Democrats work to mend the split on the political left?

We’re all unifying and working together. We know the ultimate opponent is whether or not we’re going to have someone who wants to be a rubber stamp for the Trump administration.

Whether you’re a Wisconsinite or Michigander, we’re all paying more because of tariffs, we’re all paying more because of the Iran war. It is a governor’s race or Democratic U.S. senator that is going to push back and fight for common ground and problem solving. At this moment, it is more important than ever that we coalesce around leaders who actually care about people, who want to help us keep more money in our pockets and who are going to stay focused on helping the average person get ahead. 

What type of lessons learned in Michigan can be applied to Wisconsin? 

Governor Evers and I have become very close friends because we govern very similar states. Wisconsin and Michigan are a lot alike, a big space with diverse populations, very closely divided politically, and that’s why it’s important that we show up. We show that we care about every person, whether you voted one way in the primary or you usually vote Republican, if you’re tired of the cost of life getting higher and higher and getting harder and harder to get ahead. 

We offer pragmatic solutions so that we can support our kids in our schools. We can help people get good-paying jobs, we can ensure that the government is fixing problems, making your life easier, not the opposite. 

What does a Governor Tom Tiffany mean for Wisconsin? 

A rubber stamp for the Trump administration. It means higher costs, it means having a governor who isn’t going to fight to keep people on healthcare, but actually works with the guy who’s throwing people off healthcare. 

And so I think it is life or death for some people, but certainly for every person, it’s a more expensive future, one that is harder to get ahead.

Data centers remain wildly unpopular and have become a point of contention in this race. What are your solutions? 

Michigan, like the people in Wisconsin, have got a lot of serious concerns and questions. In Michigan, we were the first state in the country to push forward a real framework where companies have signed on to an agreement that they’re not going to take energy off the grid and make life more expensive for people. They have to have a closed loop water system or some sort of system where you’re not abusing our national resources. This kind of buildout (can) hurt Michiganders, or hurt Wisconsinites, and we’re going to hold them to high standards. If they come at all, they are not going to compromise our beautiful states and our high quality living. 

Detroit, a city that is 75% Black, supported a DSA-backed candidate for Congress again and now has two DSA congresspeople. Is DSA making inroads in the Black community in Michigan? Why do you think voters there back the DSA? 

I don’t know if this is totally accurate. Donavan McKinney, who won the primary for Congress in Detroit, is a long time Democrat. He ran a great campaign. He’s staying focused on helping people get ahead and keep more money in their pockets. He’s been a great ally to me over the years and my work as governor and as a state legislator. Detroit is just like people in all parts of Michigan, and frankly, all parts of Wisconsin, who want people who can actually deliver and help them get ahead. That’s what his reputation is and that’s what he’s always done and I think that’s why he won that election.  

Wisconsin is very divided, but the one thing that unites us is our Green Bay Packers. Who will win the NFC North and why is it the Packers?

You are hilarious. The interview is over. 😂🧀