Common Ground Should be Common Sense

Gretchen Whitmer Reflects on Her Time as Governor

When I took my oath of office, it was to serve the people of Michigan — all the people. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and people who’ve never visited the ballot box. That’s what it means to be governor. As I reflect on the last seven years, I know that my decisions as governor have been shaped by the needs of Michiganders. Everyone benefits from lower costs, good-paying jobs, safe roads to drive on, and a stronger economy. By putting aside party lines and engaging with what people need, we can lead on solutions that make a real difference.

Each year, I ask Michiganders a simple question: “What can I do to make your life better?” The answers I have received led to some of our biggest achievements. Entrepreneurs wanted more opportunities to innovate, so we created the R&D Tax Credit, lowered costs for businesses, and created thousands of good-paying jobs. Students told us that higher education costs too much, so we made it free for people to go to community college and get certified for a skilled trade job. Residents told us that there weren’t enough affordable places to live, so we built or upgraded 80,000 new homes in Michigan. And of course, after talking to literally any Michigan driver, we got to work on fixing those damn roads.

By focusing on the fundamentals that impact everyone’s day to-day, we’ve made real progress. Our economy is strong, businesses are thriving, and for the first time in over 30 years, more people moved into Michigan than out. My goal has always been to make people’s lives better, and I’m not losing sight of that in my final year as governor. This year, I’m working to help every child read, expand access to quality healthcare, and lower the cost of housing. We can all agree that every Michigander deserves health, a home, and the chance to succeed in the classroom. Issues like these can help us find common ground.

Right now, things feel irreparably divided. We are too quick to judge others, too angry at the world, and too eager to twist around the things we read or watch. It’s exhausting. It can make progress seem hopeless, and solutions seem out of reach.