Updates About Governor

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called for a special election to fill the vacant 35th District Senate seat, which has remained vacant since January when Kristen McDonald Rivet took office in the U.S. House of Representatives and resigned from her State Senate position. District 35 covers parts of the Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties and is considered a top battleground seat in Michigan. In the 2022 Michigan Senate election, the seat flipped when Democrat McDonald Rivet defeated Republican then-state Representative Annette Glenn with 53.4% of the vote.

Whitmer hopes the special election will yield a state senator that collaborates with her executive office to create more jobs, grow the economy, and boost literacy rates. The special primary election is to be held on February 3, 2026, with the general election to follow on May 5, 2026.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the following hirings and promotions:

• Lily Wenkel was hired as executive assistant to the deputy chief of staff.
• Tom Zimicki as environment and climate policy advisor.
• Rebecca Besaw was brought on as deputy legal counsel. Besaw previously served as senior advisor Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel.
• Michelle Richard was promoted from deputy director of higher education to senior literacy advisor to help oversee Michigan’s new literacy curriculum.
• Emma Young moved up to deputy director of policy after four years as the education policy advisor.
• Abrielle Matibag was promoted to public affairs specialist after previously serving as an issue specialist and executive assistant to the deputy chief of staff.
• Jada Weatherspoon, the previous House associate liaison, is now a legislative advisor.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has made several appointments to state boards and commissions. Here are the highlights on our new and returning appointees:

• Health Information Technology Commission:
  • Jeffrey Chin (reappointed to represent hospitals)
• Early Childhood Investment Corporation Executive Committee:
  • Dr. Steve Tunnicliff (reappointed)
  • Laurie Linscott (reappointed)
  • Anissa Eddie (succeeds Luanne Ewald)
• Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council:
  • Jeremy Murphy (reappointed as a parent or guardian of a child with developmental disabilities)
  • Rodney Craig (appointed as a member representing a state agency that administers funds under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
  • Sarah Winslow (reappointed as a parent or guardian of a child with developmental disabilities)
• Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity:
  • Katie Anderson (reappointed as a member representing low-income individuals)
  • Dwan Dandridge (reappointed to represent the private sector)
• Michigan Opioids Task Force:
  • Caitlin Koucky (appointed as a member representing PIHP Region 2)
• School Safety and Mental Health Commission: (submitted by the Senate Majority Leader)
  • Chelsea Kittridge-Farrell (appointed as a member who is a behavioral health professional or behavioral psychologist)
  • Andrea Tobis (appointed as a member who is a teacher)
  • Nicholas Symonette (appointed as a member who is affiliated with a community-based organization working with youths)
• Michigan Board of Nursing:
  • Dr. Larissa Miller (appointed as a registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree engaged in nursing practice or nursing administration)
  • Elizabeth Fluty (reappointed as a registered professional nurse with a master’s degree in a licensed practical nurse program