The Rise of Big Gretch: Live at the Texas TribFest 2024
Whitmer speaks to members of the Michigan National Guard Detachment 1, B Company, 3-238 General Support Aviation Battalion, known also as the “Motor City Muscle”, during a socially distanced Deployment Ceremony on June 19, 2020.
“2024 is the year of the strong woman who does not take any crap”, said Evan Smith, the moderator for Gretchen Whitmer’s 2024 Texas TribFest opening, and boy, does she embody that statement. The 2024 TribFest had an exciting kickoff this past Thursday at the Paramount Theatre with Gretchen Whitmer opening the three-day festival of politics, policy, and overall knowledge. Whitmer rose to fame in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when she made national headlines for her decisive leadership as Michigan’s governor. Her strong stance on public health measures drew both praise and hostility, with former President Trump infamously referring to her as “that woman from Michigan.” The resulting political tensions even led to a kidnapping plot against her by right-wing extremists, thrusting her into the national spotlight not only as a political leader but as a symbol of resilience in the face of political violence. Since then, Whitmer has become a rising star in the Democratic Party, advocating for women’s rights, economic reform, and a results-oriented approach to governance, or as she calls it: GSD (Get Sh*t Done). At TribFest, she reflected on these challenges, particularly the struggle for women in leadership to be taken seriously in times of crisis.
Whitmer started her one-on-one discussion by sharing her reasoning for writing her latest book: True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between. “I just wanted to put some light into the world”, Whitmer expressed cheerfully while recounting insightful and inspiring stories of her time as state representative such as advocating against Michigan’s 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalizing nurses and doctors for doing their jobs by vulnerably sharing her own story of when she was raped during her college years. While unsuccessful during her time as a Michigan state representative, Whitmer was able to successfully repeal that same bill ten years later as Michigan governor. Weighing in on women’s reproductive rights, Whitmer stated this is the issue of the 2024 election year
Whitmer at annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast during the Michigan Municipal League’s Capital Conference in Lansing April 10, 2013.
Whitmer has faced a lot of opposition from the GOP from everything such as her clothing, to showing human emotion. Whitmer spoke about the difference between being a governor compared to being a woman governor. Whitmer happily expressed she is not fazed by the backlash and rather embraces her emotion and clothing to be herself. Her biggest tip: “The happy warrior always wins the debate”. That is, the person who looks like they are having the most fun will always win a debate. She recounted her cheerful and authentic self along with her goofy humor such as recounting punchlines to jokes from Kevin Hart comedy shows, to writing them down at the top of each paper on the podium during debates.
Though she avoided directly addressing speculation about her future presidential ambitions, Whitmer remains a potential contender for the 2028 or 2032 elections. Her leadership style, which centers around values of equity, perseverance, and reproductive justice, has made her a rising star in the Democratic Party. By sharing her personal struggles, advocating for reproductive rights, and calling for an end to political violence at the Texas TribFest, Whitmer reinforced her commitment to creating a political landscape where everyone can thrive. For many, she represents not just the future of the Democratic Party, but the future of leadership in America. In true Big Gretch style, her last piece of advice for young women wanting to get into politics: “Jump in!”
