LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is under intense scrutiny as wildfires continue to ravage his state. His response raised questions about his leadership and future political aspirations.

Meanwhile, Newsom’s problems could mean good news for Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer who could gain traction as a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

Looking ahead to 2028.

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Despite losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald J. Trump in a massive landslide of electoral and popular votes, VP Kamala Harris still remains the top contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination according to a poll from Puck News/Echelon Insights released on November 20th of last year.

The survey shows Harris on top with 41% support from Democrats for a presidential primary. The rest of the field includes California Governor Newsom (8%), Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (7%), Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (6%), Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (6%), U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (4%), and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer with 3%. Other names on the list include Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

With those kinds of numbers, Whitmer has a lot of ground to cover – and, like everyone else, the only person she seems positioned to surpass right now is Newsom.

While Newsom faces criticism for his handling of California’s forest management, water crises, and other resources, Whitmer has been positioning herself as a Midwestern leader with a more grounded image than her elitist counterpart in the west and that may offer her a competitive edge in national politics.

California’s crisis and Newsom’s challenges.

Newsom’s management – which many call “mismanagement” – of California’s resources has come under fire as wildfires continue to devastate communities and strain emergency services. Critics have pointed to incompetence in his managing of forest and water resources as key contributors to the crisis. Simultaneously, his policies, such as providing free health insurance for illegal immigrants and aggressive climate initiatives like mandatory electric vehicle adoption, have faced backlash.

The state’s problems have fueled dissatisfaction, prompting a new recall effort against Newsom by a group called “Save California.” The previous recall attempt, spurred by his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, failed but demonstrated growing frustration among many California residents, including Democrats. Additionally, a significant migration of residents to other states underscores concerns about the state’s long-term viability.

Waiting in the wings.

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Governor Whitmer, who has been on a list of possible 2028 presidential candidates by many political pundits for a while now, has faced her own controversies, including strict COVID-19 lockdown policies and criticism over nursing home policies during the pandemic. She has also received backlash over her constant swearing, her unprofessional “Barbie” PR stunts and the bizarre Doritos video that angered many Christians. And in an effort to increase her profile with the younger crowd even more, she has announced her “new book” “True Gretch – Young Adult Edition.”

Unfortunately for the governor, many adult Michigan residents view her as unsuccessful in actually doing adult things like fixing the “damn roads” – a slogan that was a highlight of her initial gubernatorial campaign. Despite her ongoing use of this phrase, the roads in the state still appear far from being “fixed.”

Avoiding national scrutiny…for now.

Whitmer, however, has largely avoided the national-level scrutiny currently directed at Newsom. That’s perhaps because she positions herself nationally, whether true or not, as more of a pragmatic and folksy governor in a flyover state with a focus on infrastructure, jobs and the auto industry while at the same time trying to position herself as relatable to the common man and woman.

Whitmer steers toward pragmatism amid new political gridlock in her state.

With Michigan’s state House flipping to GOP control this year, Whitmer faces a new challenge in navigating a divided political landscape. Successfully adapting to this dynamic could bolster her appeal among moderate voters, especially as she seeks to differentiate herself from more polarizing progressives like Newsom in potential future Democratic primaries.

While she has governed with a progressive agenda throughout her tenure in the state, including “fighting like Hell” for abortion and supporting taxpayer funded China-linked megasites in the state, many of Whitmer’s plans are now stalled – perhaps indefinitely – under the Republican-led legislature. To move forward, she’ll have to collaborate with the opposition, or at least make it appear as though she’s willing to do so.

This new reality was evident on Wednesday, January 15th during her “Road Ahead” speech at the Detroit Auto Show. In it, she talks about how “compromise” is a good thing even though she and the Democrats in the Michigan House and Senate have done little of that since taking partisan power over the state. She promised to work with anyone “who’s serious about solving problems” including the new Republican Speaker of the state House and incoming President Donald J. Trump and said she will “always” seek collaboration.

A fork in the road.

As the flames of California’s crises threaten to singe Gavin Newsom’s national ambitions, Whitmer finds herself at a crossroads. Her path to higher office hinges on balancing a real or manufactured Midwestern pragmatism with the progressive ideals of her party while navigating the potholes of her own political past. Whether Michigan’s “fix the damn roads” governor can build a bridge to the White House may depend on whether her record supports her ambitions or undermines them. Meanwhile, as Trump’s policies shape American lives over the next four years, significant success could leave Democrats facing an uphill battle to reclaim the presidency – regardless of who their candidate is.