LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer began her second term Sunday by calling on state leaders "to come together to get things done," including reducing gun violence, investing in education and tackling climate change.
Whitmer, a Democrat and former state lawmaker from East Lansing, took her oath of office outside the Michigan Capitol. With temperatures hanging in the high 30s, the inauguration event marked a drastic change in state government with Democrats taking control of the Legislature for the first time in 40 years.
New House Speaker Joe Tate, a Detroit Democrat, and new Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, a Democrat from Grand Rapids, spoke at Sunday's ceremony, along with Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, three Democrats who were reelected on Nov. 8.
"My fellow Michiganders, I am honored that you have put your trust in me to continue leading our beautiful state," she said. "I will be a governor for all Michiganders and I'll work with anyone who wants to solve problems and get things done."
Whitmer earned a second term as governor in the Nov. 8 election, defeating Republican Tudor Dixon by about 11 percentage points. New Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden administered Whitmer's oath of office.
The inauguration event started at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Lansing. Rain stopped before the festivities began.
Whitmer told the crowd of about 1,000 people she was excited to get to work. She said she wanted to "focus on the fundamentals, work together and get things done."
She outlined policy priorities of combating climate change, continuing to make record investments in education, reducing taxes on seniors and pursuing "common sense" gun reforms.
In an interview after the speech, Whitmer said she wants laws enacted to require background checks for gun purchases and secure storage of firearms.
"Gun violence is the No. 1 killer of kids in America, and only in America, and there are things that we can do to keep our communities safer and our schools safer," Whitmer said.
New House Minority Leader Matt Hall, of Comstock Township, who was among a small group of Republicans in attendance Sunday, said the state should stay focused on growing the economy.
"We can work together there," Hall said. "If we start going down the road of some of these more divisive social policies then we're going to have a harder time."
Democratic victories on Nov. 8 will allow Whitmer's party to set the agenda in Lansing and enact laws without Republican votes if Democrats can hold their slim majorities in the Legislature together.
The governor has previously vowed to use her second term to pursue tax relief, to strengthen infrastructure, to improve education and to secure the future of the auto industry.The early policies she hopes will pass the Legislature include easing taxes on retirement income and expanding the earned income tax credit for low-income workers.
Democrats will hold 20 of the 38 state Senate seats and 56 of the 110 House seat to begin the 2023-2024 term.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Benson, Nessel and members of the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, State Board of Education, University of Michigan Board of Regents, Michigan State University Board of Trustees and Wayne State Board of Governors who were elected on Nov. 8 also took their oaths of office during the New Year's Day ceremony.
During Whitmer's first inauguration ceremony on Jan. 1, 2019, she called for compromise and cooperation among Michigan officials.
