Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Michigan State University Trustees Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay for their respective 2026 reelection campaigns Thursday.
In a post shared to social media, Whitmer wrote that the two had been “exceptional leaders through genuinely difficult times."
Brianna Scott, of Muskegon, and Kelly Tebay, of Ann Arbor, both joined the board in 2019. Their first year in the position was marked by the resignation of Interim President John Engler in January amid fallout from the Larry Nassar scandal, and trustee Nancy Schlichting stepping down citing secrecy within the board.
In the announcement, Whitmer also endorsed University of Michigan Regents Jordan Acker and Paul Brown in their reelection campaigns.
Whitmer said that the four she is endorsing have been “making college more affordable for middle-class and low-income students, expanding the rights of university employees, and protecting these vital institutions for future generations.”
Earlier this month, The Detroit News reported that State Sen. Sylvia Santana, who represents Detroit, is planning to challenge Scott and Tebay in the election. This would leave Santana competing for one of the two MSU nominations during the Michigan Democratic Party Convention.
In the post, Whitmer says she will be standing “behind these leaders” at the convention.
Scott currently serves as board chair, assuming the role after Tebay held the role during the 2025 calendar year.
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