Gov. Whitmer hosts 'Grillin' with Gretchen' after GOP primary

Eve Sampson, Detroit Free Press
·1 min read
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer responds to questions from the press at her Wednesday evening "Grillin' with Gretchen" event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer responds to questions from the press at her Wednesday evening "Grillin' with Gretchen" event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
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Addressing a crowd of over 450 supporters at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for victory in November.

"Grillin' with Gretchen," which offered barbecue before the event, was Whitmer's first event since the Michigan GOP primary election. On Nov. 8, Whitmer will face Trump-backed Republican candidate Tudor Dixon.

Supporters from all over Michigan cheered after a short speech and then lined up for photos with the governor.

Among the crowd were activists and community leaders hoping to hear Whitmer's plans to help causes like voting rights.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer poses for a photograph with Dena Respress, 47, and Zaria Smith, 18 at the governor's "Grillin' with Gretchen" Wednesday evening event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer poses for a photograph with Dena Respress, 47, and Zaria Smith, 18 at the governor's "Grillin' with Gretchen" Wednesday evening event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Southville resident Charles Thomas Jr., a leader of the bipartisan voting advocacy group When You Vote - I Win, arrived at the event hoping to hear Whitmer's plan to get more people to the polls. Disappointed with the numbers he saw for Tuesday's primary elections, Thomas was "really hoping to hear a strategy that helps increase turnout."

Detroit resident Jacqui Showers also spoke to the Free Press about her voter turnout concerns. Though she came primarily to support Whitmer, she also emphasized voting. "I think that people need to just get out and vote. Don't allow yourselves to be intimidated, don't think it's a shoo-in for anyone — because it's not," she said.

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Speaking to the news media, Whitmer agreed. "We cannot make any assumptions about what the outcome of this election's going to be — we've got to protect voting rights, we've got to protect reproductive rights, we've got to protect civil rights."

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses a crowd of over 450 supporters at her Wednesday evening "Grillin' with Gretchen" event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses a crowd of over 450 supporters at her Wednesday evening "Grillin' with Gretchen" event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer hosts 'Grillin' with Gretchen' after GOP primary