Whitmer to speak at Democratic National Convention

LANSING, Mich. ( WLNS ) — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday evening.

It’s unknown exactly what time Whitmer will take the stage, but Thursday is the same night that current Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to officially accept the Democratic nomination for president.

Michigan is an important battleground state in the presidential election for both campaigns. A recent poll from the Cook Political Report Swing State Project showed a tight race in the state: Harris had a 3-point lead over former President Donald Trump, a statistical tie considering the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.9%.

Speaking to News 8 via video call Wednesday, Whitmer indicated voter turnout will be key in battlegrounds like Michigan.

“We know that the road to the White House goes through Michigan. I know that Donald Trump was in Howell yesterday. We’re already getting inundated with ads, like literally from the day after the primary, and that will be sustained. So it’s going to be a lot of ups and downs,” the governor said. “What I can predict it that if we are not serious about having those conversations with our loved ones or our co-workers or fellow parishioners or neighbors, if we don’t get out on the doors and talk to voters and help people get registered to vote that we could see a very low turnout, which I think would mean we don’t get great representation.”

Whitmer is one of several Michiganders who have spoken at the convention this week, following people like U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who now lives in Michigan, is also slated to speak at the convention.

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