GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been reelected, beating Republican Tudor Dixon to serve another four years as Michigan’s governor.
The Associated Press projected Whitmer as the winner around 1:20 Wednesday morning.
Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist addressed the crowd at their election night watch party shortly before the race was called.
Wednesday morning, Whitmer and Gilchrist gave their victory speech.
“For the next four years, I ask you to believe in Michigan, to work with us and believe in our state. If we do, I know there is nothing we can’t accomplish,” said Governor Whitmer.
WATCH WHITMER'S FULL VICTORY SPEECH:
"Holding this office has been the honor of my life, and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity for the last four years," Whitmer said during the speech.
Whitmer was running against Tudor Dixon, a former steel industry executive, conservative media talk show host and horror movie actress who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump ahead of the primary election in August. Dixon emerged victorious in August from a crowded primary field, in which she was the only female GOP candidate on the ballot.
FOX 17 sat down with Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist after the race was called in their favor.
WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW:
Dixon conceded in a written statement shortly after 8:30 Wednesday morning, saying Michigan's future rests "in all of us."
"I called Governor Whitmer this morning to concede and wish her well.
"Michigan’s future success rests not in elected officials or government, but all of us. It is incumbent upon all of us to help our children read, support law enforcement, and grow our economy.
"Thank you to our volunteers and supporters for working so hard to forge a better Michigan. We came up short, but we will never stop fighting for our families.”
Whitmer for Governor campaign manager Preston Elliott released the following statement in response to the Whitmer winning.
“Tonight, Michiganders across the state made their voices heard to re-elect Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist so they can continue building on their historic progress investing in public education, strengthening infrastructure, fixing the damn roads, growing the economy, and defending reproductive freedom. Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist are grateful for the overwhelming support of Michiganders from Monroe to Marquette and look forward to continuing to serve the great state of Michigan for four more years.”
Whitmer was elected governor in 2018, previously serving as a state senator and a state representative. She beat her opponent Republican Bill Schuette by 406,659 votes.
She ran on a promise in 2018 to “Fix the Damn Roads,” but her plans were halted when COVID-19 hit Michigan in March of 2020.
The pandemic slowed her progress on the roads. Her response to the pandemic is something Republicans used as ammo during her reelection bid.
This time around, Whitmer had a record to defend. She also had to convince voters she can get the state back on track after job and learning loss tied to COVID-19 and fight the 40-year inflation Michiganders are experiencing.
A new priority for Whitmer this time around was Proposal 3. After Roe v. Wade was overturned this summer, paving the way for Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban to take effect, Whitmer promised to “fight like hell” to protect women’s reproductive rights in Michigan. Whitmer filed the lawsuit, which is still working its way through the courts, to overturn Michigan’s 1931 law restricting abortion.
Whitmer’s opponent, a political newcomer from Norton Shores, had hoped to win voters over with her plans to get Michigan “back on track.”
Dixon’s top priority throughout the campaign was education. She wanted to give parents more say over what happens inside the walls of their children’s schools. She also wanted to use taxpayer dollars to fund education at charter, private and religious schools and outlined a plan to provide vouchers for 25 hours of tutoring using leftover federal COVID-19 relief funding.
Whitmer is now Michigan’s first governor elected from the same party as the sitting president.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes released the following statement to Wednesday morning's results for Michigan governor:
"Michiganders from Houghton to Detroit made their voices heard and re-elected Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist — proven fighters for working families who are committed to moving our state forward.
"Since 2018, Governor Whitmer has fought for more public school funding than any other administration, strengthened our infrastructure and ensured an economy that works for every Michigander, not just those at the top.
"Thankfully, tonight, extremism was rejected in favor of a governor who will build on the progress of her first term and uplift Michigan for four more years."
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan also chiming in;
"We look forward to working with state leaders like Governor Gretchen Whitmer to ensure that reproductive freedom is not a right in name only. Throughout her career, Governor Whitmer has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting Michigan citizens’ rights to essential, affordable, and accessible health care. We look forward to her ongoing leadership and fierce advocacy in the years to come.”
You can find full election results and more 2022 midterm coverage on the FOX 17 website.
