MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Democratic Gov. of Michigan on Thursday said she has 鈥渘othing to announce鈥� about a possible 2028 presidential bid, stepping back her comment from hours earlier that she will not run for president after leaving office later this year.
鈥淵ou know, I never thought I would run for governor, so I guess I should know better than to say any of it. Never say never,鈥� Whitmer said when asked about the remarks during a one-on-one session Thursday afternoon at Michigan鈥檚 annual Mackinac policy conference.
鈥淎t this juncture, I鈥檝e got nothing to announce,鈥� she added.
Whitmer has long been viewed by some Democrats as a possible White House contender after her decisive election victories in the closely contested state that Republican Donald Trump has carried twice in presidential votes. Whitmer is term-limited and will be done after this year.
For months Whitmer had offered about her political future. She seemed to put an end to the speculation during an interview earlier Thursday, telling that 鈥淚 think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028.”
But she backtracked later in the day, saying she wanted to 鈥渃orrect the record.鈥� Whitmer said she was answering the 鈥�100th question of the morning about it鈥� and said she wasn’t making any plans.
鈥淚 guess I鈥檒l smile and say, 鈥業鈥檓 going to stay focused鈥� and leave it at that for now,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer has previously said she plans to take time before deciding on her next move politically.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that I鈥檒l put my name on the ballot again. I鈥檓 just not sure,鈥� Whitmer said at an April breakfast in Detroit. 鈥淏ut I also am 54 years old. I got a lot of gas in the tank.鈥�
The Mackinac conference has become a hub of presidential speculation, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elissa Slotkin 鈥� both considered possible 2028 contenders 鈥� also in attendance.
鈥淚f there was someone I believed in, I’d be all in,鈥� Slotkin told The Associated Press. 鈥淏ut I’m not taking it off the table because I want to be a part of that next generation of leaders.鈥�
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