Whitmer, Schuette make final push for governor
Republican candidate Bill Schuette and Democratic candidate Gretchen Whitmer are making their final pushes to become Michigan’s next governor on Nov. 6.
Schuette became Michigan’s 53rd Attorney General in 2010 and since then has charged 15 people with crimes in association with the Flint water crisis, helped bring Larry Nassar to justice and helped to create the Michigan Commission for Human Trafficking. Schuette has also served on the Michigan Court of Appeals and as U.S. House Representative from 1985 to 1991.
Whitmer served in the state House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. She then served in state Senate from 2006 to 2015. During her time as a state Senator she helped collect the number of votes needed to pass an expansion of Medicaid and rose to become the state democratic leader in 2010.
In 2016, Whitmer was appointed as the Ingham County Prosecutor, where she worked on many sexual assault and domestic violence cases.
Whitmer is leading in the polls by eight points over Schuette, according to a poll by Mitchell Research and Communications.
Whitmer’s platform focuses on fixing roads, clean drinking water, women’s rights, health care, education and fighting the opioid epidemic.
Some major issues in Schuette’s platform include cutting auto insurance rates, infrastructure, health care, education and protecting the Great Lakes.
Both candidates participated in the first gubernatorial debate on Oct. 12. A second debate is scheduled for Oct. 24.
During the debate, Schuette said one of his main goals is to "drive Michigan forward."
“This is a race about whether we go forward or whether we go backward,” Schuette said. “I want to make sure I drive Michigan forward with cutting taxes and lowering insurance rates. That’s what people in Michigan are concerned about.”
Schuette also spoke about his intention to improve Michigan’s public education system and to bring more job opportunities to the state.
On the other side of the debate, Whitmer talked about her willingness to cross party lines, regardless of their political affiliations, to help Michigan thrive.
“I don’t care about credit. I care about results. I will work with anyone who is willing to solve a problem,” Whitmer said. “The people of this state want us to solve problems and we have to work together to get it done.”
Whitmer was adamant about her intention to expand Medicaid and to fix Michigan roads.
For more information about the candidates, visit their websites at https://www.gretchenwhitmer.com and https://billschuette.com.
