Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reversed her position on a 2028 presidential bid within hours at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday, leaving her political future in limbo just months before her term ends.
Whitmer first told Fox 2 Detroit earlier in the day that she would not seek the presidency after leaving office later this year.
"I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028," Whitmer said.
But during an onstage interview later Thursday at the conference, the governor walked back those remarks.
"You know, I never thought I would run for governor, so I guess I should know better than to say any of it. Never say never," Whitmer said. "At this juncture, I've got nothing to announce."
Whitmer said she was answering the "100th question of the morning" about her plans and wanted to "correct the record." She added that she would stay focused on her remaining time in office.
Term-limited governor faces speculation
Whitmer is term-limited and will leave the governor's office at the end of 2026. She has long been viewed by some Democrats as a potential White House contender after winning two elections in a state that Donald Trump carried in both 2016 and 2020.
The governor has offered cautious answers about her political future for months. In April, she told a Detroit breakfast event that she was unsure about running again.
"I don't know that I'll put my name on the ballot again. I'm just not sure," Whitmer said at the time. "But I also am 54 years old. I got a lot of gas in the tank."
Mackinac becomes hub for 2028 speculation
The Mackinac conference drew other names connected to 2028 presidential speculation. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin were both in attendance.
Slotkin told The Associated Press she is keeping her options open.
"If there was someone I believed in, I'd be all in," Slotkin said. "But I'm not taking it off the table because I want to be a part of that next generation of leaders."
Senate race heats up at the same conference
The Mackinac Policy Conference also hosted a heated Democratic primary debate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator Gary Peters. The race features Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed.
The three Democratic candidates clashed on campaign finance, health care, and foreign policy. The Michigan Senate race is considered one of the few true toss-ups in the country this year. Recent polls show the Democratic candidates statistically tied, with more than a third of primary voters still undecided.
Republican nominee Mike Rogers spoke in a separate segment and said Michigan is "a state that is in decline" due to rising costs and regulation.
What happens next
Whitmer did not rule out a presidential run. Her "nothing to announce" comment suggests she has not made a final decision. The governor's next moves will be closely watched by Democrats and political analysts as the 2028 cycle takes shape.