Watch , read Gov . Gretchen Whitmer final State of the State address

bridgemi.com · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her eighth — and final — State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday evening. The term-limited Democrat touted past accomplishments and laid out proposals for the year ahead, including initiatives to improve student literacy, address housing issues and medical debt. Watch the full speech here, and read the full address, as prepared for delivery, below: My fellow Michiganders—good evening! I am honored to be back for my eighth and final State of the State Address. Thank you, Majority Leader Brinks, Speaker Hall, Minority Leader Nesbitt, and Minority Leader Puri. I’m eager to work with you all again on our last balanced, bipartisan budget. Let’s get it done on time… by June 30th. I want to thank every legislator here—whether it’s your first term or your last—for your public service. From folks like Representative O’Neal who leads the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus… to Senator McBroom, who brings the UP’s spirit of sisu to Lansing… You all have unique perspectives and strong voices. It’s an honor to serve the people of Michigan with you. Let’s applaud three other statewide leaders who have also worked hard for Michigan these last 7 years… Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, Attorney General Nessel, and Secretary of State Benson. Let’s thank the members of the Michigan Supreme Court for upholding our constitution and the rule of law. And a big thanks to the Michiganders who keep us all safe… local first responders, the Michigan State Police, the Michigan National Guard, and our DNR Conservation Officers. This includes two heroes who responded to the shooting at a church in Grand Blanc last September. Two men who didn’t know each other, but acted quickly to protect their neighbors… because that’s what Michiganders do. We’re honored to have them both here this evening. Let’s give DNR Officer Luke Robare (row-bear) and Grand Blanc Township Officer Jason Carpentier (car-pen-teer) a big hand. Next, let’s thank our state employees, including my cabinet, executive office team, and everyone on the front lines in the departments. Thank you. To my family… without your sacrifices and support, I would not be able to do this work. I do this because of you and for you. I love you. To the people of Michigan… serving as your governor has been the honor of a lifetime. Thank you for putting your trust in me. Finally, let’s talk about the Olympics. From skiing and skating to snowboarding and hockey, Michigan was everywhere. 15 extraordinary Michiganders represented the US on the world stage. They came home with 13 medals and a few less teeth. The Olympics are a reminder of what Americans can accomplish when we come together to do hard things. Here in Michigan, hard work and teamwork are in our DNA. Let’s give it up for all the Michiganders who represented the United States in Milan. Here in Michigan, we have a lot to be proud of. Over the past seven years, we’ve delivered on kitchen table issues. Together, we’re building a Michigan for all: Wages and GDP are up. Crime and overdose deaths are down. PreK, school meals, and community college all are free. Taxes on retirement, tips, overtime, and Social Security are gone. We’ve fixed more roads, built more homes, and replaced more lead pipes than ever before. And more people moved in to Michigan from other states than out for the first time since the early 90s. Still, people are nervous about the national economy. While your paycheck may have grown, the cost of everything else has too. Many middle class families tread water, struggle to pay the bills, find good jobs, and get ahead. If you’re young, it can be hard to find a job that pays well or a home you can afford. Tariffs have jacked up prices, costing families an average of $1,000 bucks last year. Businesses of all sizes are facing higher costs and massive uncertainty too. Last year, America had its worst manufacturing trade deficit ever while China clocked their highest trade surplus ever—$1.2 trillion. I’m hopeful that last week’s Supreme Court decision will force Congress and the President to work out a more strategic trade policy. As everyone reels from national uncertainty, WE must stay focused on growing Michigan’s economy. This year, let’s stay competitive against our neighbors like Ohio and Indiana by equipping ourselves with the tools we need to create good-paying jobs and make it easier to develop and grow here. Thank you, Senator Singh and Representative Farhat, for your leadership on this. And we’re all exhausted by the endless division. Too many people are quick to judge and eager to spin everything they read, watch, or hear. It’s stoked by irresponsible leaders and organizations who get more power or make more money when we’re all angry at each other or sad about ourselves. Despite these national challenges, Michiganders can show the way forward. We can all show the rest of the country how we work together to get things done. We can remind people to carry themselves with an underdog spirit and a championship swagger, like we do. That’s what being a Michigander is all about. Taking pride in who you are, what you do, and what you value. In 2026, I’m focused on issues that will help us build a Michigan for all… First, our kids’ education… And second, more money in your pocket for housing and health care. Let’s start with, literacy: an essential, lifelong skill. Strong readers and writers grow up to be more confident speakers, better problem solvers, and great entrepreneurs. Illiteracy is a challenge that compounds over time. How could anyone enjoy learning when you can’t read your textbook? Struggling students grow up anxious about getting called on in class, become increasingly disengaged, and ultimately struggle to fill out mortgage applications, pay bills, or apply for a job. Tragically, American students are falling behind, and Michigan is no exception. There’s a gender gap here too. Boys are behind girls in reading at every age. Michigan is 44th for 4th grade reading. Forty-fourth. This is a serious problem. Our kids deserve better. It’s not the fault of any one person, party, or event. It’s not concentrated in any one state or any one kind of school district. Literacy is a national challenge. No matter who becomes governor after me, they’ll have to continue this work. Because simultaneously, our economy demands every child possess stronger reading, writing, and critical thinking skills than ever before… Yet we’re not keeping up with top states. But we can. We can close the gender gap and raise the bar for all kids. We can compete, but we must change to win. Over the past seven years, we’ve taken significant bipartisan action on literacy. Led by leaders in both chambers: Senators Irwin, Camilleri, and Polehanki and Representatives Glanville and Kelly. Every budget I’ve introduced, negotiated, and signed these last 7 years made record investments in education. Every year we’ve raised the bar. We: trained more teachers, tutored more kids, funded more mental health, and upgraded classrooms, libraries, and science labs. In late 2024, I signed “Science of Reading” legislation, a statewide strategy that uses proven methods to teach reading. That includes phonics… because it works. Previously, schools used over 400 different literacy teaching methods. Now, we’re simplifying that to what we know is most effective. Soon, we’ll also screen every student for dyslexia, identifying kids who need extra help and ensuring they get it. We gave districts more funds to buy evidence-based classroom resources. We invested in literacy coaches—professionals who help our educators improve how they teach reading. Late last year, we convened the first-ever Michigan Literacy Summit of experts. I want to thank state Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko for his focus on literacy. And earlier this month, I signed the bills to limit phones during class time. Students can better focus on learning and our teachers can do what they do best—teach! I called for this in last year’s address and I want to thank Senator Polehanki and Representative Tisdel for getting it done. We’ve been working together to make our schools safer, better places for kids to learn and grow. This year, let’s build on that progress. I just released my final executive budget recommendation, which included the largest targeted literacy investment in Michigan history. The plan has a simple name and a clear goal: Every Child Reads. It’s got three parts: 1) Early starts, 2) Proven methods, and 3) Extra help. First, we start teaching reading earlier. Those early years are crucial. It’s when young brains are best able to absorb new information. For babies and toddlers, literacy starts when people talk to them, sing with them, or read them stories—things most parents already do. That early learning continues in preK, where kids learn their ABCs and use language to play and make friends. The data tells us that students who attend preK are far more likely to read and do math at or above grade level. I’m thrilled that Michigan families have repeatedly broken records for preK enrollment. It’s working. So, let’s keep going. Every parent should know that Michigan is committed to their child’s lifelong academic success, from preK through graduation. This year, let’s fund free, full-day PreK for All to set every child up for success. Second, let’s get proven literacy teaching practices into all Michigan classrooms. Our teachers work hard. No one wants to see students succeed more than they do. Let’s support teachers by adopting effective curriculums statewide AND fund additional professional learning, like LETRS (letters) training, to ensure we’re teaching literacy using the most effective strategies to improve student outcomes. Finally, extra help. Potential is universal. But opportunity is not. Our new science of reading law identifies students who need more support, but what does that actually look like? It means more tut