Congressional Democrats endorse Gretchen Whitmer for Michigan governor

It took awhile, but the Democratic Party’s establishment is beginning to coalesce around the gubernatorial candidacy of former state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer.

Starting with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan a week ago, the Teamsters and AFSCME came on board last week, joining the powerful Michigan Education Association, which endorsed Whitmer last month. And on Monday, the Democrats in Michigan’s Congressional delegation offered their support of Whitmer, an attorney and East Lansing resident.

U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee of Flint of Township, Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, Sander Levin of Royal Oak and Brenda Lawrence of Southfield gathered in Taylor Monday morning to announce their united endorsement of Whitmer.

The one big piece of the endorsement puzzle is the United Auto Workers, which has yet to endorse in the race and earlier this year was trying to convince U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, to get into the race.

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"We've had years and years here of one party rule and we need a candidate who can break that domination," said Levin. "I've represented Macomb and Oakland for many years and with Gretchen at the helm, we're going to carry both of those counties."

Kildee added, that voters need only to look to Flint and the public health crisis caused by lead in the city's water that a change is needed in Lansing.

"We had an entire city poisoned by its own government by putting the balance sheet ahead of the lives and health of its citizens," he said. "Gretchen is a fighter and she'll fight for the people who have been left behind."

Dingell said Whitmer will be able to make sure that the gerrymandering of congressional and legislative districts will end.

"That's why the four of us are coming together. We know how important the future of Michigan is and that there should be more than four of us in Washington," she said. "Primaries are a good thing. They let you test people and the force people to campaign. We have good people still in the Democratic primary. But we're getting to a point that we all understand that we have to begin to coalesce and begin to build momentum for November."

Whitmer said she's running as a mom, a driver who has had to replace two windshields in the last year, a caregiver who took care of her cancer-ridden mother, a former prosecutor and a legislator "who knows how to get stuff done."

"Michiganders haven't had a governor in their corner for a long time and that's about to change," she said. "We'll take on anyone who stands in our way. Now let's get to work."

The timing is good for Whitmer, said Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus of Target-Insyght. Retired Ann Arbor businessman Shri Thanedar has put $6 million of his own money into his campaign and spent more than $1 million on television advertising to boost his name identification.

"The Congressional delegation is circling the wagon because they’re trying to protect her," Sarpolus said. "If she kicks her campaign into high gear and starts creating a presence then she should be doing well."

The labor endorsements, along with the delegation and Duggan, could add resources and ground troops to her campaign. And up to 39% of the voters in the Democratic Party come from union households, said Sarpolus.

"They'll all be speaking with one voice now," he said. "Labor can rally their members and send out mailers. "This adds a layer of soft dollars and support so Whitmer doesn’t have to match the hard dollars that Shri has put into his campaign."

Other Democrats in the race include: Thanedar, former Detroit health department director Abdul El-Sayed of Shelby Township and retired businessmen Bill Cobbs of Farmington Hills.

Running on the Republican side: Attorney General Bill Schuette of Midland, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley of Portland, state Sen. Patrick Colbeck of Canton, Dr. Jim Hines of Saginaw Township, Evan Space of Lansing, Earl Lackie of Royal Oak, Mark McFarlin of Piinconning and Joseph DeRose of Williamston.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.