Gov. Whitmer talks at MSU with former Gov. Blanchard about her book, 'True Gretch'

EAST LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was on Michigan State University's campus Tuesday evening, promoting her book "True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between."

The event was sponsored by former governor and fellow Democrat Jim Blanchard's Public Service Forum and held at the Kellogg Center. Hundreds of people came to hear Whitmer speak, as well as receive a signed copy of her book.

Blanchard asked Whitmer questions covering a range of topics, from her past six years as governor to her future in politics, to her decision to write a book and release it during an election year.

"I knew this would be a heavy year," she said. "I thought this is a good time to put something positive out. It's not a memoir. It's 10 things that I've learned at an early time in my life that I have utilized over these last six years, to stay positive and stay focused and I figured I'd put a little light on the world."

In "True Gretch," Whitmer talks about her start in politics, which was not a lifelong passion of hers.

"I thought I was going to be a sports broadcaster when I was here in undergrad," Whitmer said. "That was the plan. (But) my dad said, 'So few people understand state government and the Capitol is right down the street so why don't you do an internship and see how it goes?'"

That internship led to a career as a state legislator and eventual governor of Michigan. Although she didn't care much about politics when she began college, she calls for young people to get involved with or continue to be involved with politics today.

"Young people have a huge stake in this election," she said. "And so my advice to young people is to be the change... We need young people now more than ever to take ownership of our elections and our government and of our future."

Whitmer said all royalties from the sale of her book are going to the Capital Region Community Foundation, which serves nonprofits in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.

The hour-long event was amid a chaotic few weeks in national politics. Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would no longer be seeking the Democratic nomination for president. Soon after, his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, formally announced she would be seeking the nomination .

Whitmer has been seen as a potential running mate for Harris, but Tuesday refuted reports that she had submitted vetting materials to Harris' campaign.

"I am not interested in doing other than this job for the next two and a half years," she told reporters after signing Michigan's education budget Tuesday afternoon in Flint.

Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com. Follow her on X @sarahmatwood .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Gov. Whitmer talks at MSU with former Gov. Blanchard about her book, 'True Gretch'