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Michigan Gov. Whitmer Delivers on Most State of the State Promises in Final Year
As Governor Gretchen Whitmer prepares to deliver her final State of the State address on February 25, she can claim victory on one of her signature campaign pledges: securing long-term funding to “fix the damn roads.”
The bipartisan road funding deal signed last fall represents the culmination of years of effort for the second-term Democrat, who has consistently highlighted infrastructure needs throughout her tenure. The agreement will provide an additional $2 billion annually for Michigan roads through reallocated funds and a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana.
According to a new analysis by Bridge Michigan, Whitmer successfully delivered on ten of the fourteen promises or calls to action made in her 2025 address. This success rate aligns with her overall track record, having fully or partially delivered on 42 of 62 commitments across her seven previous annual speeches.
“The governor has been strategic about what she calls for,” said Adrian Hemond, a Democratic strategist with Grassroots Midwest in Lansing. “The last Democratic governor [Jennifer Granholm] did maybe promise a little bit more than was realistic to be able to deliver with the Legislature that she had to work with. This governor hasn’t done as much of that.”
Among Whitmer’s 2025 successes was the passage of new legislation restricting smartphone use in Michigan’s K-12 classrooms. The new law, which takes effect for the 2026-27 school year, will require all public schools to implement plans prohibiting smartphone usage during instructional time, with exceptions for medical devices or educational purposes.
The administration also delivered on promises to expand affordable childcare by securing a $17 million funding boost that will cover subsidized care for an additional 4,289 children. The state budget now includes $543 million to support nearly 49,000 children in total.
Housing investments represented another victory, with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority announcing record spending of $2.61 billion in fiscal year 2025. These funds helped produce, preserve or finance over 12,400 housing units across the state, exceeding Whitmer’s goal of supporting 11,000 homes.
Education funding also reached a milestone with per-pupil foundation allowances hitting $10,050 – the highest nominal figure in state history. However, Craig Thiel, research director at the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council, notes this amount still lags when adjusted for inflation. “That $10,000 gets eaten up not just by general inflation, but the inflation that is impacting wages, that’s impacting health care,” Thiel explained.
Whitmer’s partnership with Republican House Speaker Matt Hall proved particularly effective on several initiatives. They successfully advocated for new fighter jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, securing federal support during a joint White House visit with then-President Donald Trump. They also worked together to implement greater transparency in the budget earmarking process, though full implementation was delayed in the Senate.
Despite these accomplishments, Whitmer faced notable setbacks. Her proposed tax on vaping products failed to gain traction, despite her argument that 32 other states, including all of Michigan’s neighbors, already tax such products similarly to tobacco. She has renewed this push in her recent budget proposal.
The administration also fell short on delivering significant medical debt relief. While Whitmer successfully helped forgive $144 million in medical debt in 2024, her call for “a more significant, bipartisan way” to address the nearly 700,000 Michiganders with medical debt went unanswered in the current budget.
Perhaps most notably, Whitmer’s call for legislators to pass “a balanced, bipartisan budget by the end of June” went unfulfilled. With divided government returning to Lansing, budget negotiations proved particularly challenging, missing not only the July 1 deadline in state law but also the October 1 constitutional deadline – the first such failure in 16 years.
As Whitmer prepares for her final address, political observers expect her to focus on achievable goals within her remaining time in office. Her February 25 speech offers an opportunity to set priorities for her final year while navigating a divided Legislature during an election year where partisan politics could impede policy advancement.
“The governor will lay out my plan to build on our years of strong, bipartisan progress and strategic, fiscally responsible leadership,” Whitmer said in a statement, suggesting she’ll continue the pattern of balancing policy proposals with celebrations of past accomplishments.
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12 Comments
It’s great to see a governor delivering on their campaign promises, especially on critical issues like infrastructure. The bipartisan road funding deal and the marijuana tax revenue are both innovative approaches. I’m curious to learn more about Whitmer’s other priorities and how she’s addressed them during her tenure.
The 42 out of 62 commitments fulfilled is a strong track record. Governing is always a balancing act, so being able to make tangible progress on so many fronts is an impressive feat.
Interesting to see Governor Whitmer’s record on campaign promises. It’s good to see a bipartisan deal reached to fund road repairs – that’s a critical issue for many Michiganders. The 24% marijuana tax is an innovative revenue source to help address infrastructure needs.
I’m curious to learn more about the other promises Whitmer delivered on. Infrastructure is a key priority, but it’s good to see a diverse set of commitments being fulfilled.
Kudos to Governor Whitmer for her focus on infrastructure and ability to work across the aisle to secure funding. The 24% marijuana tax is a creative solution, though I’m curious about how it will be perceived by the public. Overall, it seems like a solid track record of delivering on campaign promises.
I agree, the bipartisan road funding deal is an impressive accomplishment. It will be interesting to see how the marijuana tax revenue performs and whether it proves to be a sustainable long-term solution for Michigan’s infrastructure needs.
It’s always good to see bipartisan cooperation, especially on important issues like infrastructure funding. The marijuana tax is an intriguing approach to generate revenue. I wonder how that will be received by the public.
The 24% marijuana tax is an innovative idea. I’m curious to see how that revenue stream performs and if it proves to be a sustainable solution for the state’s road repair needs.
Whitmer appears to have a strong track record of delivering on her campaign promises, which is admirable. Infrastructure is clearly a key priority, and the bipartisan road funding deal is a significant accomplishment. It will be interesting to see what other areas she has focused on during her tenure.
The marijuana tax revenue for infrastructure is an intriguing approach. I wonder if other states might consider similar strategies to address their own road repair and maintenance challenges.
The analysis showing Whitmer delivered on 42 of 62 commitments across her previous speeches is pretty impressive. Governing is challenging, so being able to make tangible progress on so many key issues is an achievement.
I imagine road repairs and infrastructure were a major focus, given the state’s well-documented needs in that area. But I’m curious to hear what other priorities Whitmer has addressed during her tenure.