Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer endorses McDonald Rivet for Congress

State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) received the endorsement of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday for her campaign for the 8th Congressional District.

“I am proud to endorse Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress,” Whitmer said in a video posted to her social media accounts. “In the state Senate, she worked tirelessly to make housing more affordable and bring good-paying jobs to our communities. She was a leader in repealing Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban. And she helped me pass the largest tax cut for working families in Michigan history. This is a seat we need to win, and she is the one who can do it. I’m behind her 100 percent.”

“Governor Whitmer and I have joined forces to accomplish big things that will help Central Michigan families make ends meet – historic tax cuts for the working class, creating good-paying jobs and protecting reproductive rights,” said McDonald Rivet. “I am beyond honored to have her support in our campaign for MI-08, knowing we have what it takes to both win and continue our work together to reduce costs and protect our hard-won freedoms.”

In her 2024 State of the State address, Governor Whitmer praised McDonald Rivet’s leadership in passing historic tax cuts for working families. Now they are working to confront special interests and lower the cost of everyday goods like housing, child care and prescription drugs. They also worked together to ensure access to safe, legal abortion and reproductive care in Michigan.

McDonald Rivet was elected to the state’s 35th Senate District in 2022. In January, she announced her candidacy for the 8th Congressional District, which includes most of Genesee County, all of Saginaw and Bay Counties, and parts of Midland and Tuscola Counties.

Whitmer’s endorsement comes after the support of many others, including the current holder of the district seat, Congressman Dan Kildee, who will retire in November.

The race to replace Rep. Dan Kildee in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District – classified as undecided by the Cook Political Report – will be one of the toughest and most competitive races for U.S. House seats in the country in 2024.

Isabelle Pasciolla is a political reporter for the Midland Daily News. You can reach her by email at [email protected].