An earlier version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance on Jan. 10, 2019.
Tonight’s State of the State Address marks the 21st I will have watched since first becoming a legislator. Counting Governor Whitmer, I have had the privilege of working closely (sometimes with, sometimes against) our state’s last four governors. I have seen all kinds of personalities, leadership styles and political strategies—and have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t.
But this is my first time watching someone forge and hone all of those things firsthand.
Gilda Jacobs and Gretchen Whitmer served together as part of the high-water mark of female Senators pictured here in 2006.
I was proud to serve in the Legislature with Governor Whitmer for nearly a decade, including serving side-by-side during her first term in the House and again in the Senate from 2006 to 2010. And it is that relationship and experience that has me just as excited professionally as I am personally about her taking over the state’s highest office.
Governor Whitmer was only 29 when she and I first served in the House together—one of the youngest lawmakers at that time. Her legislative career and policy perspectives were shaped by the life changes that impact us all. During our term together in the House, Governor Whitmer unexpectedly found herself in the sandwich generation, caring for her own kids and her ailing mom at the same time.
The birth of her daughters and the loss of her mother gave her a new, albeit difficult, perspective on the struggles so many Michiganders around the state face, and galvanized her appreciation for the role lawmakers and public policy play in helping our fellow residents. I saw firsthand as she drew from those experiences, and they shaped her stances on policies that support new moms and promote equity for women in all regards, the value of healthcare and the many hurdles that lie within our insurance system.
The League has been around since 1912 and has operated under 23 governors. Many of the policies expected to be discussed tonight are issues the League has been working on for years or even decades. In conjunction with the start of a new legislative session and a new governor’s term, the League has released a people-driven proactive policy agenda entitled The Owner’s Manual for Michigan. The Owner’s Manual contains policy briefs on child care, preschool, PFAS, lead and other public health threats, and healthcare and the Healthy Michigan Plan—all topics likely to come up in tonight’s speech.
In the Senate, she continued to gain important experience and learn some valuable and very different lessons. She found her voice as the Senate Democratic Leader, becoming the first female caucus leader in the Senate. Her incendiary, sometimes highly personal speeches and sharp criticism of political gamesmanship made her a hero to many around the state. She conveyed a level of authenticity, courage and conviction never seen in the Capitol before.
But it also came at a personal cost. As the state’s biggest defender of progressive values and the thorn in the Republican Senate Majority’s side, the future governor faced major opposition. Lawmakers in the majority rarely took up her legislation and stymied her accomplishments any way they could. And 99 percent of the time, regardless of her brave and passionate stances, her Republican colleagues had the votes and passed many of their harmful, hyperpartisan bills any way. But with her work on the successful Healthy Michigan Plan and an expansive roads package, Governor Whitmer also saw what could be achieved with bipartisanship.
These are some of the experiences that have informed Governor Whitmer’s work, and will certainly shape her policy goals and approaches now that she is governor.
Staying true to her word, the new governor is building bridges … not just to cross partisan divides, but to connect all Michiganders. For too long, many in our state have been left behind. They’ve been on opposite shores, and the gulfs that separate them go far beyond political leanings—they’re gaps in income, education, values, basic rights…
Over the last several years, as Michigan’s economy and employment rate have slowly recovered, the Michigan League for Public Policy has been trying to draw attention to the widening moat between our residents. It has been a tale of two Michigans.
The League has put out countless reports about how your standing in our state—your education outcomes, your health, your employment opportunities, your income and more—varies dramatically by the color of your skin, where you live and how much money you make. And in every category, kids and people of color and people living in poverty are at the bottom of the scale. In fact, Michigan is one of the worst states in the nation to be a kid of color. Our state’s rural residents are struggling significantly as well.
These are the things that have to change if we want Michigan to thrive as a state. It is clear that Governor Whitmer understands that. She is committed to building bridges, not just between parties but between people.
In her short time in office, she has already used her executive power to address government bureaucracy and threats to public health, encourage the state to direct more investment to low-income communities, and provide protections for the LGBTQ community and ensure equal pay for female state employees. Since she took office, she has been taking the time to meet with state employees across the departments and talk with constituents from around the state to learn more about their concerns.
This is the Gretchen Whitmer I know. This is the kind of governor Michigan needs. And tonight she will lay out her plan for Michigan. I am excited to listen to her speech tonight and to work with her in the years ahead as we reconnect our government and public policies with the people—all the people—they are meant to serve.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
