Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan Endorse Gretchen Whitmer for Governor

SOUTHFIELD — Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM) today announced its endorsement of Gretchen Whitmer for Governor, citing her years of frontline, steadfast support for reproductive rights.

“Throughout her career, Gretchen Whitmer has fought for Michigan’s women and families. As Senate Minority Leader, she worked tirelessly to expand Medicaid, giving more than 670,000 Michiganders access to the health care they need to live healthy, happy lives,” said Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan President and CEO Lori Carpentier. “When politicians attempted to chisel away at reproductive rights, including the constitutionally protected right to safe, legal abortion, Gretchen led the fight to protect women’s ability to control their bodies and their futures. Gretchen has steadfastly stood with the thousands across the state who depend on Planned Parenthood for their reproductive health care and for this reason, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan is proud to stand with Gretchen to ensure we finally have leadership in Lansing that acts in the best interests of people, not special interests.”

Whitmer’s decades of experience as a legislative leader and advocate on the issues facing everyday Michiganders make her the most qualified candidate in the field. As Senate Minority Leader, she led a caucus that refused to let harmful legislation pass without a strong fight, garnering national headlines for her opposition to Michigan’s “rape insurance” legislation and leading the charge to expand Medicaid though the state’s Healthy Michigan program. She understands firsthand the challenges women and families face and has fought for paid family leave and equal pay for equal work.

“I’m running because Michigan women and families haven’t had a governor in their corner for a long time,” said Whitmer. “It feels like every day there’s another attempt in Lansing to restrict our health care choices. When I’m governor, I’ll work to make health care more affordable for families, just like when I brought Republicans and Democrats together to expand Medicaid through Healthy Michigan. That’s why I’m so honored to have this endorsement, because Planned Parenthood is on the front lines every day fighting to ensure that every Michigander has access to quality, affordable health care services. Working together, we can build a better Michigan for everyone.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM) is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Michigan. PPAM works in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund at the national level, as well as our health center/education affiliate Planned Parenthood of Michigan, supporters, and patients at the state level to ensure access to reproductive health for all Michiganders.