Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring at the Nov. 14, 2024 turkey pardoning on the state Capitol steps. | Kyle Davidson
Just over a week out from a busy election season and roughly a week into the Legislature’s lame duck session, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke with reporters after the state’s annual turkey pardoning, confirming she had not joined a newly formed governor’s association aimed at protecting state-level democratic institutions from federal overreach.
Announced on Tuesday by Democratic Govs. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Jared Polis of Colorado, Governors Safeguarding Democracy is a nonpartisan association formed out of concerns that President-elect Donald Trump’s second term would bring harm to democratic institutions and eliminate federal protections in areas like the environment, health care and civil rights.
Colorado, Illinois governors launch organization to ‘safeguard’ democracy ahead of Trump presidency
“I’m not a part of the group,” Whitmer said.
“[Pritzker and Polis are] great leaders, they’re great friends. There’s probably some things that they’ll learn that others can learn from, and certainly things we’re learning that we’ll share with them. But I think every governor’s got to manage their state under their own circumstances, and so that’s why I’ll continue to keep my focus on the people of the state of Michigan,” Whitmer said.
While Whitmer has established herself as a fierce Trump critic and a strong voice for Democrats across the nation, serving as a co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris’s election campaign, she told reporters on Tuesday she was focusing on finding shared priorities where she could work with the incoming Trump administration.
“Obviously, there will be areas in which we don’t agree. I don’t agree with anyone on everything, and so that’s not going to be a surprise. But you know, we have worked with the Trump administration before. We’ll figure out how to work with the Trump administration, going into the last two years of my term,” Whitmer said.
The governor is considered a top presidential contender in 2028.
Whitmer also deflected when asked her thoughts about Trump’s controversial selection of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for U.S. Attorney General, telling reporters “I will work with whomever gets through Senate confirmations.”
Gaetz remains at the center of a congressional ethics investigation, with the House Committee on Ethics announcing in June that it would continue pursuing allegations, including the possibility he had “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.”
Gaetz has denied these allegations.
The pardoning of Aidan Cluckinson
While Thursday’s gray skies and occasional sprinkles marked “fowl weather” Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring joked that it’s always a wonderful day for clemency, sharing a number of Thanksgiving-related dad jokes before inviting Whitmer to commence the pardoning of Aidan Cluckinson.
Preceded by Dolly Pardon in 2023 and Mitch E. Gander in 2022, this year’s turkey — named after Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson — is the third in a line of punnily-named poultry Whitmer has granted clemency since taking office.
Cluckinson’s name is one of hundreds of submissions based on the Detroit Lions, Whitmer said.
“This team, our team, has captured our hearts and raised our hopes for a Super Bowl. And not only have they brought us all together, but they represent our Michigan spirit,” Whitmer said.
“You might argue with your uncle at Thanksgiving dinner, but no matter what, we can all find common ground around the Lions. Now more than ever, it’s important that we come together. As we know, the tur-key to our success is teamwork. There are no foes or fouls, just future friends,” Whitmer said.
Aidan Cluckinson has been released to the Saginaw Children’s Zoo, with Saginaw Children’s Zoo Staff Veterinarian Abigail Friske inviting Michiganders to come see Cluckinson when the Zoo reopens for the season in spring.
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