AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT Michigan President David Hecker on Michigan’s Election of Gretchen Whitmer for Governor

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten on the election of Gretchen Whitmer for governor of Michigan:

“Gretchen Whitmer walks the walk for kids, for teachers and for working families because she’s one of us. An AFT member and a mom with kids in public schools, she understands the importance of investing in safe and welcoming public schools for all children, ensuring educators have a voice and are paid a living wage, making college affordable, and ending the exploitation of adjunct faculty. By electing Whitmer, voters repudiated the DeVos agenda of defunding and decimating public schools in favor of the for-profit schools that took root in Michigan and failed to help kids. Whitmer will champion expanded healthcare and safe drinking water, and will fight for decency and fairness to put a check on President Trump’s cruel and inhumane agenda. I was proud to spend Election Day campaigning for Whitmer, and AFT members look forward to a governor who will work with us to make life better for Michiganders.”

AFT Michigan President David Hecker on Whitmer’s election:

“Michigan voters took our state back on Election Day with the elections of Gretchen Whitmer, Garlin Gilchrist, Jocelyn Benson and Dana Nessel as our new state leaders. Voters said ‘enough already’ of an education policy controlled by the DeVos agenda, which didn’t serve our students. On the federal level, voters said we must have a check on President Trump by re-electing Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Reps. Debbie Dingell, Dan Kildee and Brenda Lawrence, and by electing Haley Stevens, Rashida Tlaib and Andy Levin to the House of Representatives. Moreover, Michigan voters said we want fair elections and more-accessible voting with the passage of proposals 2 and 3. 

“Voters across Michigan rejected the politics of division and realized the strength of their united voice. For months, our members have been knocking on doors, making calls and mobilizing to put these candidates in office. Now, we look forward to working alongside them to build a state where public schools, healthcare and working-family values are the top priorities.”