Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed back Sunday on comments made by former first lady Michelle Obama last year that U.S. voters aren\u2019t ready to elect a female president.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen, I have got a lot of colleagues who I think are probably interested in running for president, and I\u2019ve heard everyone say, \u2018You can\u2019t have this person or that person,\u2019\u201d the governor told NBC News\u2019 \u201cMeet the Press.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would put my money on any Democratic governor in the country against [Vice President] JD Vance or [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio in 2028,\u201d she added, pointing to two Republicans widely expected to run for president in two years.<\/p>\n
Asked directly whether a woman could be the best choice to beat a potential GOP presidential nominee in 2028, Whitmer simply said, \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2025, Obama said in public remarks: \u201cAs we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain\u2019t ready. That\u2019s why I\u2019m like, don\u2019t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You\u2019re not ready for a woman. You are not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several women, including Whitmer and former Vice President Kamala Harris, are widely speculated to be potential candidates in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Whitmer did not deny that she\u2019s exploring a potential run for president in 2028, saying that she\u2019ll decide on her next steps after she departs from her post as governor in January.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I exit office \u2026 I\u2019m going to take a little time off and figure out what I want to do next, so I\u2019ve got nothing new to share with you, unfortunately,\u201d Whitmer told \u201cMeet the Press\u201d moderator Kristen Welker.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Whitmer denied that she planned to run for president but quickly walked back<\/a> the comments.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be a robust group of people running for president,\u201d she said at the time, adding, \u201cI will not be one of them in 2028, I can tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n Later the same day, the governor said: \u201cI never thought I would run for governor. So I guess I should know better to never say never.\u201d<\/p>\n Several other Democratic governors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, are also widely regarded as potential 2028 presidential candidates. Each has been crisscrossing the country ahead of the midterms campaigning on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidates in competitive races.<\/p>\n Whitmer on Sunday highlighted her support for former public health official Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for governor in Ohio.<\/p>\n