Michigan Republicans Rally Behind Trump's Bridge Leverage

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].

Gretchen Whitmer, born August 23, 1971, in East Lansing, Michigan, is a lifelong Michigander and the 49th Governor of Michigan, serving since 2019[5]. A lawyer and educator, Whitmer earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from Michigan State University[1][3]. Her political career began in 2000 when she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, followed by election to the State Senate in 2006, where she made history as the first woman to lead a Senate caucus[1][2]. After being term-limited out of the Senate, she briefly served as Ingham County prosecutor in 2016, establishing a dedicated domestic violence unit[2]. Whitmer’s gubernatorial tenure has focused on bipartisan cooperation and addressing “kitchen-table” issues such as education, infrastructure, and economic development[3][4]. She has signed over 1,000 bipartisan bills and multiple balanced budgets, prioritizing investments in public education—including the largest K–12 funding in state history—and infrastructure, notably repairing thousands of miles of roads and bridges[3][6]. Her administration has also launched workforce programs like Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners, expanding access to education and job training[6]. Under Whitmer, Michigan has attracted significant auto industry investments, created tens of thousands of jobs, and maintained a strong state credit rating[3][4]. She has also enacted policies to lower costs for families, such as auto insurance refunds and expanded childcare access, while repealing the state’s right-to-work law and the 1931 abortion ban after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade[5][6]. These actions have positioned her as a prominent figure in state-level Democratic politics. Whitmer was reelected in 2022, a year marked by national political headwinds for Democrats, and her party also gained control of both chambers of the Michigan legislature for the first time in decades[5]. In 2024, she published a memoir, *True Gretch*, reflecting on her career and leadership[5]. Though briefly considered as a potential vice presidential candidate during the 2024 election cycle, she withdrew from consideration and instead co-chaired Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, speaking at the Democratic National Convention[5]. Whitmer lives in Lansing with her husband, Dr. Marc Mallory, her two daughters, and three stepsons[1][4]. Known for her direct communication style—epitomized by her “fix the damn roads” slogan—she remains a central figure in Michigan politics, recognized for her focus on practical governance and bipartisan achievement[4][6].