Former Sen. Carl Levin Endorses Whitmer for Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2018
Contact: 517–980–6190
Former Sen. Carl Levin Endorses Whitmer for Governor
LANSING — Today, former U.S. Senator Carl Levin released the following statement endorsing Gretchen Whitmer for Governor of Michigan.
“Michigan needs a governor who knows how to bring people together to get things done. That’s why I’m so proud to be endorsing Gretchen Whitmer in this race, because she has a real track record of pulling Democrats and Republicans together to get important things done, like expanding Medicaid to cover over 680,000 Michiganders, and raising the minimum wage for working families. She is the kind of leader we need in the governor’s office, someone who will focus on things that will actually make a difference in people’s lives, like fixing the roads, improving education and skills training so our kids can get good-paying jobs, and protecting our drinking water. Uniting behind Gretchen will allow us to focus on building a better Michigan for all of us.”
Senator Levin is the longest serving senator in Michigan history, representing Michigan from 1979–2015. He currently serves as chair of the Levin Center at Wayne Law and as Distinguished Legislator in Residence at Wayne Law.
“This endorsement means the world to me,” said Whitmer. “Carl Levin is a true Michigan icon, because he has dedicated his entire life in public service to getting things done for the people of Michigan. That’s exactly what I’ll do as governor, by focusing on fixing the damn roads, making health care more affordable, and getting rid of the Retirement Tax. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get it done.”
Whitmer was one of the first candidates in the entire country endorsed by EMILY’s List, and is also supported by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, the Progressive Women’s Alliance and MI List.
Whitmer is also endorsed by organizations representing more than one million Michigan workers, including:
- the United Auto Workers;
- the Michigan Education Association;
- the Michigan Construction and Building Trades Council;
- the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights;
- the Michigan State Utility Workers Council;
- the Michigan Pipe Trades Association;
- the Michigan Joint Council of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union;
- United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 876 and 951;
- Communications Workers of America District 4;
- Iron Workers Local 25;
- the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council #43;
- the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 1M;
- the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Michigan State Conference;
- the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union;
- AFSCME Council 25;
- the Michigan Laborers District Council
- the American Federation of Teachers
- The Michigan AFL-CIO
- United Steelworkers District 2
Whitmer is also being supported by current and former elected officials, including:
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan;
- former Michigan Governor James Blanchard;
- Wayne County Executive Warren Evans;
- Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy:
- Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon;
- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI09) of Royal Oak;
- U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI05) of Flint Township;
- U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI14) of Southfield;
- U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI12) of Dearborn
- former Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley;
- Lansing Mayor Andy Schor
Whitmer is also being supported by 32 members of the Michigan Legislature, including: Assistant Democratic Senate Leader Steve Bieda (Warren); Democratic Senate Floor Leader Morris Hood III (Detroit); Associate President Pro Tempore Hoon-Yung Hopgood (Taylor); Assistant Democratic Senate Caucus Chair Vincent Gregory (Lathrup Village); Senate Democratic Whip Curtis Hertel (East Lansing); Senator Rebekah Warren (Ann Arbor); Democratic House Leader Sam Singh (East Lansing);Democratic House Floor Leader Christine Greig (Farmington Hills), Assistant Democratic House Whip Erika Geiss (Taylor), Representative Fred Durhal (Detroit), Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (Detroit), Representative Leslie Love (Detroit), Representative Robert Kosowski (Westland), Representative Kevin Hertel (St. Clair Shores), Representative Kristy Pagan (Canton), Representative Robert Wittenberg (Huntington Woods), Representative Patrick Green (Warren), Representative Tim Greimel (Auburn Hills), Representative Jeremy Moss (Southfield), Representative Pam Faris (Clio), Representative Phil Phelps (Flint), Representative Tim Sneller (Burton), Representative Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township), Representative Ronnie Peterson (Ypsilanti), Representative Jon Hoadley (Kalamazoo), Representative Tom Cochran (Mason), Representative David LaGrand (Grand Rapids), Representative Winnie Brinks (Grand Rapids), Representative Terry Sabo (Muskegon),Representative Sara Cambensy (Marquette), and Representative Scott Dianda (Calumet).
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