Name: Gretchen Whitmer (D)

Age: 31

Hometown: East Lansing

Education: Bachelor’s in communications 1993, MSU; Law degree 1998, MSU/DCL

Occupation: State representative, lawyer

Family: Married to Gary Shrewsbury; one daughter

Political background: State representative, 2001-present, serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, interned for Speaker of the House and took full-time policy job upon graduation from MSU

Web site: None

Stance on the issues:

Overcoming the state’s budget difficulties: Stop “plugging holes” in the budget and work toward more comprehensive long-term solutions; trim government; consider a pause of single business tax cut.

Higher education affordability: Make education No. 1 budget priority - holding public schools harmless in balancing the state budget and working to make higher education more affordable; opposes lifting cap on charter schools until there’s evidence they are working and building accountability for tax dollars.

Environment: Recreate the Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources by strengthening them with consumer oversight.

Transportation: Roads are abominable from neglect; leverage every federal dollar available; better maintenance would avoid gasoline tax increases

Abortion rights: Pro-choice

Affirmative action: Supports; believes diversity is essential to world-class education

Gay rights: Supports gay rights and related protections in hate crimes legislation; give domestic partners same civil rights and responsibilities heterosexuals have under the law