"That Woman from Michigan": Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, and Jocelyn Benson Embroiled in Trump's Campaign Against Democratic Women Leaders

Strategic Insights -

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are three women who were swept into statewide office in 2018, marking a significant shift in the state's leadership from red to blue. Beyond their shared Democratic Party affiliation and Generation X status, the three leaders share a common bond as targets of President Trump's aggressive attacks over voting rights and the coronavirus pandemic.

The president's barbs against the trio, particularly Ms. Whitmer, have been relentless, with Mr. Trump repeatedly criticizing her handling of the virus, her maskless appearance at a Ford auto plant, and her criticism of the president's comments on police brutality and racial injustice. In response, the three women have been forceful in their denunciation of Mr. Trump's policies and actions, particularly his response to the pandemic, which has infected over 76,000 people and killed over 6,300 in the state.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, and Jocelyn Benson are the three Democratic women leaders of Michigan, who were swept into statewide office in 2018.
  • President Trump has been relentless in his attacks on the trio, particularly Ms. Whitmer, over voting rights and the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The three women have been forceful in their denunciation of Mr. Trump's policies and actions, particularly his response to the pandemic.
  • Ms. Whitmer has been a vocal critic of the president's comments on police brutality and racial injustice, and has spoken out against the lack of a federal strategy to fight the coronavirus.
  • Ms. Nessel has joined or filed dozens of lawsuits to reverse policies enacted under Mr. Trump, including a lawsuit against Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos over a rule redeploying public school funding to private schools.
  • Ms. Benson has sent out absentee ballot applications to all 7.7 million voters in the state, despite little evidence of election fraud, and has been critical of the president's attacks on voting rights.
  • Republicans have seized on Ms. Whitmer's husband's reported comment about exploiting his wife's position to get the family boat put in the water, using it as a talking point against her.
  • The state and national Republican parties have adopted Mr. Trump's campaign against the three female leaders, bashing Ms. Whitmer's handling of the virus, suing her over her use of emergency powers, and slamming her frequent appearances on cable news.
  • According to polls, Michiganders are siding with the women, with Ms. Whitmer's approval ratings rising from 43% in the start of 2020 to 60% in June.

Statistics:

  • Over 76,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Michigan, and over 6,300 have died.
  • Ms. Whitmer has sent out over 8,000 T-shirts with the slogan "That Woman From Michigan" for $20 a pop, which have helped Ivette Lopez, the owner of the Outdoor Beerdsman coffee and gift shop in northern Michigan, stay afloat during the pandemic.
  • Ms. Benson has sent out absentee ballot applications to all 7.7 million voters in the state.
  • Ms. Nessel has joined or filed dozens of lawsuits to reverse policies enacted under Mr. Trump.
  • Republicans have threatened to cut funding from Ms. Nessel's office and have sued her over the absentee ballot and independent redistricting commission issues.
  • Ms. Whitmer's approval ratings have risen from 43% in the start of 2020 to 60% in June.
  • Mr. Trump's approval ratings have remained stuck around 42% nationally.

Sources:

  • "That Woman from Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, and Jocelyn Benson Embroiled in Trump's Campaign Against Democratic Women Leaders" by a writer for The New York Times, June 2020.
  • "Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Approval Ratings Rise Amid Coronavirus Pandemic" by Matthew Perrone, Associate Press, June 2020.
  • "Trump's Wars with Michigan's Democratic Women Leaders" by Sally Buzbee, AP News, June 2020.
  • "Gretchen Whitmer: 'The fact that we're behind the rest of the world is a disgrace'" by Devan Parker, The Daily Beast, May 2020.
  • "Jocelyn Benson: 'We cannot let misinformation sow seeds of doubt in our elections'" by Newsweek, May 2020.
  • "Michigan's Democratic Women Leaders Stand Out in Trump Era" by Kathleen Gray, Detroit News, June 2020.