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Whitmer wins Michigan governor’s race

Posted at 9:28 PM, Nov 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-06 23:55:28-05

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrat Gretchen Whitmer has won the race for Michigan governor, defeating Bill Schuette and upending years of Republican control in the state.

Whitmer, a former legislative leader, will succeed term-limited Gov. Rick Snyder.

She ran on a platform of fixing problems such as deteriorating roads and aging drinking water infrastructure. She also emphasized her past vote to expand Medicaid to more than 600,000 lower-income adults under the federal health care law.

The 47-year-old Whitmer, of East Lansing, will become Michigan’s second female governor when she takes office.

The conservative Schuette faced criticism for challenging the health law in court and defending the state’s gay marriage ban against a lawsuit. He was backed by President Donald Trump in the state Trump won in 2016 — but not by the moderate Snyder.

Click here to see all the election results.