2018 Gubernatorial Race Begins; Whitmer Enters Race

Less than two months since the end of the last election, the Michigan gubernatorial race has begun, with the entry of Democrat Gretchen Whitmer into the race to replace Rick Snyder, who is term limited out of office.

The Detroit Free-Press is reporting Whitmer, a Lansing Democrat will file paper work today.

Republicans wasted no time in attacking Whitmer, with MI Republican Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel saying “If we needed further evidence that career politician Gretchen Whitmer’s brief stint in the Ingham County Prosecutor’s office was anything more than an attempt to grab a headline, here it is. Whitmer didn’t even wait a week after leaving her temp job to file for Governor."

The Free-Press says Whitmer is probably the first in a potentially long list of candidates to succeed Snyder. U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee of Flint is another potential Democrat, along with Mich. Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette and Lt. Brian Calley. on the Republican side.