Bulwark Takes Did Whitmer Kill Her 2028 Chances With This?
May 6, 2025
Jonathan Cohn, a policy-focused colleague at The Bulwark, joins hosts Sam Stein and Lauren Egan to dissect the diverse approaches top Democrats are taking against Trump. They explore Gretchen Whitmer's collaborative strategy compared to Alyssa Slotkin's confrontational stance. The discussion reveals how these tactics reflect the shifting political landscape in Michigan and the challenges Democrats face in balancing local needs with national strategies, all while weighing the risks for future leaders.
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Two Michigan Models on Trump
- Michigan Democrats have two main models for dealing with Trump: Whitmer's cooperative model and Slotkin's adversarial approach.
- Whitmer works with Trump for tangible results, while Slotkin attacks Trump aggressively to highlight party differences.
Pritzker's Aggressive Trump Stance
- Illinois Governor Pritzker aggressively attacks Trump, reflecting a more confrontational strategy.
- This contrasts with Whitmer's bipartisanship and may be driven by personal style and political ambitions.
Whitmer's Bipartisan Roots Explored
- Whitmer's bipartisan approach is rooted in her personal background and political calculation in a divided state.
- She balances working with Trump while recognizing many constituents also supported him.