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Governor of Michigan

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Michigan Governor

Seal of Michigan.png

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $159,300
2024 FY Budget:  $8,905,400
Term limits:  2 terms
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Michigan Constitution, Article V, Section I
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder

Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer
Democratic Party
Assumed office: 2019-01-01

Elections
Next election:  November 3, 2026
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Other Michigan Executive Offices
GovernorLieutenant GovernorSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurerAuditorSuperintendent of Public InstructionDirector of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentInsurance CommissionerNatural Resources DirectorLabor DirectorPublic Service Commission

The Governor of the State of Michigan is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Michigan. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two terms.[1]


From statehood until the election of 1966, governors were elected to two-year terms. Elections are held in November and the governor assumes office the following January, except in the case of death or resignation. From statehood until 1851, elections were held in odd-numbered years. A new state constitution was drafted in 1850 and took effect in 1851. As part of the process bringing the constitution into effect, there was a single one-year term of governor in 1851. Thereafter elections were held on even years.

The constitution adopted in 1963 changed the governor's term to four years, starting in 1967. Since then, gubernatorial elections have been offset by two years from U.S. presidential elections (e.g., presidential elections were in 2000 and 2004, gubernatorial elections were in 1998 and 2002). The winner of the gubernatorial election takes office at noon on January 1 of the year following the election.

In 1992, an amendment to the Michigan constitution imposed a lifetime term limit of two four-year terms for the office of governor. Prior to this, they were not limited as to how many terms they could serve; John Engler, the governor at the time, was exempt from the rule and served three terms, re-elected in 1994 and 1998 before retiring in 2003.

Michigan has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.


Michigan has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: Michigan State Legislature, Michigan House of Representatives, Michigan State Senate

Current officeholder

The 49th and current governor is Gretchen Whitmer (D). She was first elected in 2018.[1]

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article V, the Executive Department.[2]

Under Article V, Section I:

The executive power is vested in the governor.[2]

Qualifications

State Executives
StateExecLogo.png
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014

A candidate for governor is required, under Section 22, to be:[2]

  • at least 30 years old
  • a registered voter in the state of Michigan for at least four years preceding the election

Elections

Michigan state government organizational chart

Michigan elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Michigan, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first day of the year following an election.

2022

See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Michigan

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Gretchen-Whitmer.jpg
Gretchen Whitmer (D)
 
54.5
 
2,430,505
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Dixontudor.jpg
Tudor Dixon (R)
 
43.9
 
1,960,635
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mary_Buzuma1.png
Mary Buzuma (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
38,800
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Donna_Brandenburg.jpg
Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party)
 
0.4
 
16,246
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/khogan.jpg
Kevin Hogan (G) Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
10,766
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Daryl_Simpson.png
Daryl Simpson (Natural Law Party) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
4,973
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Evan_Space.jpg
Evan Space (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
26
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
21

Total votes: 4,461,972
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan

Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Gretchen-Whitmer.jpg
Gretchen Whitmer
 
100.0
 
938,382

Total votes: 938,382
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Michigan

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Dixontudor.jpg
Tudor Dixon
 
39.7
 
436,350
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Kevin_Rinke.jpeg
Kevin Rinke
 
21.5
 
236,306
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/soldano.jpg
Garrett Soldano
 
17.5
 
192,442
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kelleyryan.jfif
Ryan Kelley
 
15.1
 
165,587
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/RalphRebandt.png
Ralph Rebandt Candidate Connection
 
4.1
 
45,046
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/craigjameschief.jpg
James Craig (Write-in)
 
2.1
 
23,521
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Elizabeth Adkisson (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
11
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Justin Blackburn (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
10

Total votes: 1,099,273
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Green convention

Green convention for Governor of Michigan

Kevin Hogan advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Michigan on April 23, 2022.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/khogan.jpg
Kevin Hogan (G) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan

Mary Buzuma advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Michigan on July 10, 2022.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mary_Buzuma1.png
Mary Buzuma (L) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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U.S. Taxpayers Party convention

U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan

Donna Brandenburg advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Governor of Michigan on July 23, 2022.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Donna_Brandenburg.jpg
Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers Party)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Michigan

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Gretchen-Whitmer.jpg
Gretchen Whitmer (D)
 
53.3
 
2,266,193
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bill_Schuette.JPG
Bill Schuette (R) Candidate Connection
 
43.7
 
1,859,534
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bill_Gelineau-1.jpg
Bill Gelineau (L)
 
1.3
 
56,606
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Todd_Schleiger.jpg
Todd Schleiger (U.S. Taxpayers Party)
 
0.7
 
29,219
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jennifer_Kurland.jpg
Jennifer Kurland (G)
 
0.7
 
28,799
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Keith_Butkovich.jpeg
Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party)
 
0.2
 
10,202
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
32

Total votes: 4,250,585
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan

Gretchen Whitmer defeated Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Gretchen-Whitmer.jpg
Gretchen Whitmer
 
52.0
 
588,436
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Abdul_El_Sayed.jpg
Abdul El-Sayed
 
30.2
 
342,179
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Shri_Thanedar__.jpg
Shri Thanedar
 
17.7
 
200,645

Total votes: 1,131,260
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Michigan

Bill Schuette defeated Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, and Jim Hines in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bill_Schuette.JPG
Bill Schuette Candidate Connection
 
50.7
 
501,959
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Calley_497209_7.gif.jpg
Brian Calley
 
25.2
 
249,185
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Patrick_Colbeck.jpg
Patrick Colbeck
 
13.1
 
129,646
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jim_Hines.jpg
Jim Hines
 
11.0
 
108,735

Total votes: 989,525
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Michigan

Jennifer Kurland advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jennifer_Kurland.jpg
Jennifer Kurland

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan

Bill Gelineau defeated John Tatar in the Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bill_Gelineau-1.jpg
Bill Gelineau
 
57.8
 
4,034
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
John Tatar
 
42.2
 
2,941

Total votes: 6,975
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2014

See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRick Snyder/Brian Calley Incumbent 50.9% 1,607,399
     Democratic Mark Schauer/Lisa Brown 46.9% 1,479,057
     Libertarian Mary Buzuma/Scott Boman 1.1% 35,723
     U.S. Taxpayers Mark McFarlin/Richard Mendoza 0.6% 19,368
     Green Paul Homeniuk/Candace R. Caveny 0.5% 14,934
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0% 50
Total Votes 3,156,531
Election results via Michigan Department of State

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Michigan governors are restricted to two terms in office during their lifetime.[2]

Michigan Constitution, Article V, Section 30

No person shall be elected more than two times to each office of the executive branch of government: governor ... Any person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy in the office of governor ... for a period greater than one half of a term of such office, shall be considered to have been elected to serve one time in that office for purposes of this section. This limitation on the number of times a person shall be elected to office shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993.[2]

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Governors of Michigan from 1992 to 2013.
Governor of Michigan Partisanship.PNG

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article V, Section 26.

In the event of the governor's death, resignation, impeachment and conviction, or removal from office, the line of succession begins with the lieutenant governor, the elected secretary of state, and then the elected attorney general.

The same line of succession applies if a governor-elect dies, which the caveat that it is the elected, or re-elected, individuals who would have taken office in the New Year.

For the temporary absence or inability of the governor, the same individuals will take over the office, but only until the governor returns or recovers. Determining a permanent inability of the governor is at the discretion of the Supreme Court of Michigan, which shall take up the matter only after receiving a joint petition from the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If a majority of the court rules that the governor is indeed unfit for office, that determination shall be final and may only be reversed by the same Court.

Duties

Michigan

Michigan's governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's militia (§ 12), upholds and executes all laws (§ 8), and is the final supervisor of all principle departments of the government. She or he may initiate court proceedings in the name of the state to enforce all laws, except she or he may not initiate such proceedings against the legislature. (§ 8)

Respecting the Constitutional upper bound of 20 departments, the governor may reorganize offices of the state government and reallocate functions among those offices. (§ 2) The single officers and the boards and commissions that head each department are gubernatorial appointees, unless their election or appointment by another method is explicitly prescribed in law.(§ 3).

Under § 7, all appointments that legally require Senatorial advice and consent shall be put forth by the governor. Any nominee who is rejected by the Senate is ineligible for an interim appointment to the same office.

The governor may request information and reports from any department and any executive officer, and may remove or suspend such officers for corruption, neglect, and incompetence. Such privileges to remove and suspend officers does not extend to the legislature or the judiciary. (§ 10). In such cases, the governor may make an interim appointment until the suspension is removed or until a vacancy election is held. (§ 11) Concerning legislative vacancies, the governor issues a writ calling a special election to replace both Representatives and Senators who vacate their office. (§ 13).[2]

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

  • Granting reprieves, pardons, and commutations except in cases of impeachment. Once a year, the governor must address the legislature stating his or her reasons for each pardon (§ 14)
  • Convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature (§ 15) and moving the meeting place of the legislature when the seat of government is in danger (§ 16)
  • Addressing the legislature at the start of each regular session and at other times she deems prudent on the condition of the state and delivering her recommendations (§ 17)
  • Submitting a budget once a year that covers the next fiscal period, in which proposed expenditures may not exceed proposed revenues. The governor may also propose amendments to any appropriation bill under consideration in either chamber (§ 18) If expenditures are later predicted to exceed revenue, the governor shall work with the appropriations committees of both houses to bring spending back into balance (§ 20)

Divisions

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Michigan has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget

Role in state budget

See also: Michigan state budget and finances

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[3]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
  2. State agencies submit their requests to the governor in October.
  3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February. Newly elected governors are allowed an additional 30 to 60 days after the legislature convenes.
  4. The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. The fiscal year begins October 1.

Michigan is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[3][4]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the state legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[3]

Governor's office budget

The Executive Office's budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which includes the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor, was $8,905,400.[5]

Summer home

Michigan is the only state that owns and maintains a summer home strictly for the governor. The home, known as the Lawrence Young cottage, sits on a bluff on Mackinac Island. Purchased by the state in 1944, it is 7,100 square feet, with 11 bedrooms and 9 1/2 baths.[6]

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

The Michigan Constitution allows that the compensation for the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general shall be provided by law, and is not to be altered during the term of office. Established under Article IV, Section 12 of the Michigan Constitution, the State Officers Compensation Commission was created to determine the salaries of select public officials. The seven-member, government appointed commission meets every two years. The commission may propose compensation increases, but may only propose a reduction in salary if the proposed amount is equal to or higher than the salary in place when the official took office. Once approved by the legislature, compensation is effective during the legislative session following the subsequent general election.[7]

Article V, Section 23 of the Michigan Constitution:

The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general shall each receive the compensation provided by law in full payment for all services performed and expenses incurred during his term of office. Such compensation shall not be changed during the term of office except as otherwise provided in this constitution.[2]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $159,300, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $159,300, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2020

In 2020, the governor received a salary of $159,300, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2019

In 2019, the governor received a salary of $159,300, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

2018

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $159,300, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

2017

In 2017, the governor was scheduled to receive a salary of $159,300. However, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) returned all but $1 of his salary.[13]

2016

In 2016, the governor was scheduled to receive a salary of $159,300. However, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) returned all but $1 of his salary.[14]

2015

In 2015, the governor was scheduled to receive a salary of $159,300. However, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) returned all but $1 of his salary.ref>Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021</ref>

2014

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $159,300, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2013

In 2013, the governor was scheduled to receive a salary of $159,300. However, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) returned all but $1 of his salary.[16]

2012

In 2012, the governor was paid an estimated $177,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Michigan
Partisan breakdown of the Michigan governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013 in Michigan, there were Democratic governors in office for eight years while there were Republican governors in office for 14 years, including the last three. Michigan was under Republican trifectas for the last three years of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Michigan, the Michigan State Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Michigan state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Massachusetts state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Michigan has had spurts of divided government and a Republican trifecta. The state had a Republican trifecta during three separate periods (1995-1996, 1999-2002, and 2011-2013) and divided government during three separate periods (1992-1994, 1997-1998, and 2003-2010). The state’s highest SQLI ranking came in 1999 under a Republican trifecta (19th). Beginning in 2007, Michigan has slipped into the bottom-10 of the SQLI ranking and has remained there since. Michigan saw its most precipitous drop in the SQLI ranking between 2001 and 2002 and again between 2003 and 2004, under both a Republican trifecta and divided government, respectively. The state had not had a Democratic trifecta.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: N/A
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 26.88
  • SQLI average with divided government: 33.31
Chart displaying the partisanship of Michigan government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Historical officeholders (1835-Present)

There have been 49 Governors of Michigan since 1835. Of the 49 governors, 18 were Democratic, 28 were Republican, two were Whigs, and one was Democratic (Fusionist).[18]

# Name Term Party
1 Stevens T. Mason 1835-1840 Democratic
2 William Woodbridge 1840-1841 Whig
3 James Wright Gordon 1841-1842 Whig
4 John S. Barry 1842-1846 Democratic
5 Alpheus Felch 1846-1847 Democratic
6 William L. Greenly 1847-1848 Democratic
7 Epaphroditus Ranson 1848-1850 Democratic
8 John S. Barry 1850-1852 Democratic
9 Robert McClelland 1852-1853 Democratic
10 Andrew Parsons 1853-1855 Democratic
11 Kinsley S. Bingham 1855-1859 Republican
12 Moses Wisner 1859-1861 Republican
13 Austin Blair 1861-1865 Republican
14 Henry H. Crapo 1865-1869 Republican
15 Henry P. Baldwin 1869-1873 Republican
16 John J. Bagley 1873-1877 Republican
17 Charles M. Croswell 1877-1881 Republican
18 David H. Jerome 1881-1883 Republican
19 Josiah W. Begole 1883-1885 Democratic (Fusionist)
20 Russell A. Alger 1885-1887 Republican
21 Cyrus G. Luce 1887-1891 Republican
22 Edwin B. Winans 1891-1893 Democratic
23 John T. Rich 1893-1897 Republican
24 Hazen S. Pingree 1897-1901 Republican
25 Aaron T. Bliss 1901-1905 Republican
26 Fred M. Warner 1905-1911 Republican
27 Chase S. Osborn 1911-1913 Republican
28 Woodbridge N. Ferris 1913-1917 Democratic
29 Albert E. Sleeper Republican
30 Alexander J. Groesbeck 1921-1927 Republican
31 Fred M. Green 1927-1931 Republican
32 Wilber M. Brucker 1931-1933 Republican
33 William A. Comstock 1933-1935 Democratic
34 Frank D. Fitzgerald 1935-1937 Republican
35 Frank Murphy 1937-1939 Democratic
36 Frank D. Fitzgerald 1939 Republican
37 Luren D. Dickinson 1939-1941 Republican
38 Murray D. Van Wagoner 1941-1943 Democratic
39 Harry F. Kelly 1943-1947 Republican
40 Kim Sigler 1947-1949 Republican
41 G. Mennen Williams 1949-1961 Democratic
42 John B. Swainson 1961-1963 Democratic
43 George Romney 1963-1969 Republican
44 William G. Milliken 1969-1983 Republican
45 James J. Blanchard 1983-1991 Democratic
46 John M. Engler 1991-2003 Republican
47 Jennifer M. Granholm 2003-2011 Democratic
48 Rick Snyder 2011-2019 Republican
49 Gretchen Whitmer 2019-present Democratic

State profile

Demographic data for Michigan
 MichiganU.S.
Total population:9,917,715316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):56,5393,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:79%73.6%
Black/African American:14%12.6%
Asian:2.7%5.1%
Native American:0.5%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.6%3%
Hispanic/Latino:4.7%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:89.6%86.7%
College graduation rate:26.9%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$49,576$53,889
Persons below poverty level:20%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Michigan.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Michigan

Michigan voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 12 are located in Michigan, accounting for 5.83 percent of the total pivot counties.[19]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Michigan had 11 Retained Pivot Counties and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 6.08 and 4.00 of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Michigan coverage on Ballotpedia

Contact information

Governor Gretchen Whitmer
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3400
Phone (constituent services): (517) 335-7858

See also

Michigan State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Michigan.gov, "Michigan Government: Executive Branch," accessed January 18, 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Michigan Legislature, "Constitution of the State of Michigan," accessed January 18, 2021
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  4. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  5. Michigan.gov, "FY 2024 Budget," accessed December 6, 2023
  6. Michigan.gov, "Mackinac Island Residence," January 18, 2021
  7. Michigan Civil Service Commission, “State Officers Compensation Commission,” accessed January 18, 2021
  8. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  9. Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  10. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
  11. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
  12. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
  13. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
  14. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 18, 2021
  15. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
  16. Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," January 18, 2021
  17. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
  18. State of Michigan, "Michigan's Former Governors," accessed January 18, 2021
  19. The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.