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Whitmer files petitions to appear on primary ballot

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Former state Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer filed petition signatures Thursday to get her name on the primary ballot as a candidate for governor.

 

Supporters cheered as they handed over to state elections officials boxes containing petitions to put Whitmer’s name on the ballot.

The primary for governor isn’t until August, but Democrats will hold a convention this weekend to come up with the rest of the slate. Whitmer heads into that convention with a lot of endorsements, but, if polls are to be believed, most Democrats are still undecided on their candidate for governor. 

“That’s my goal, is to make sure that people know what we’re building here and we get people to try to become a part of it.”

Whitmer is running on her experience as a legislator in the House and Senate. She also says she’s not happy with the cutthroat turn political campaigns in both parties have taken.

“I’m concerned about the tone of politics, generally. I think after the Trump election we’ve seen people just try to demoralize and demean each other. We’ve seen it in the Republican race on the other side of the aisle, and I don’t like it.”

Whitmer says she supports efforts in the Legislature to address campus sexual misconduct.

“I don’t like to see the rhetoric coming out of Michigan State. I don’t like to see the most recent headlines, and I’m concerned there’s a cultural problem on the campus.” 

Whitmer is the second Democrat to file signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Doctor Abdul El Sayad faces questions about his eligibility to run.