In an interview this past weekend with CNN’s “State of the Union,” Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer — a prominent ally of Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris — was asked about “potential problems or delays” in the procedural handling of this year’s election in her closely watched state. And Whitmer expressed confidence in how it would eventually unfold.
“Well, I think we should all be concerned. There certainly is an effort to undermine our confidence in our democratic institutions. There is an effort to misinform people. […] I will also say this, though. In Michigan, we have codified a lot of different ways for people to participate in this election. We have increased penalties against those who threaten election workers, and we’re going to make sure that our votes are cast and counted,” she said while on the air.
“And I’m not worried about the outcome. We may have some difficulties along the way, because there are nefarious people who are trying to undermine our confidence in our elections, but we won’t let them win.”
Michigan was among the most disputed states after the 2020 presidential election, when it was won by nationally successful Democratic candidate — and current President — Joe Biden after a victory there for Donald Trump four years earlier. Michigan was among the states where a sham slate of pro-Trump electoral votes was assembled despite Biden winning the jurisdiction, and there was even some on-site tension around the tabulation of votes in Detroit, a major, Democratic-leaning metropolitan area.
In the time since, Democrats saw substantial electoral success in the state, with Whitmer herself winning another term — by a lot — in the 2022 midterm elections no matter her being personally singled out for criticism by Trump.
This year, the state also has a Senate election on the ballot pitting two current members of Congress against each other: Republican Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat.