Whitmer Tells NBC ‘Today’ Show That She Has Spoken with Biden Campaign About VP Ticket

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday (5/19) during an interview on NBC’s “Today” show that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has contacted her about the possibility of her joining his ticket as the candidate for vice president.

Until Tuesday’s interview, Whitmer has said there has been no contact with the Biden campaign about running for vice president. Biden, however, has indicated recently that Whitmer is on his shortlist.

“I’ve had a conversation with some folks, but the fact of the matter is all of my energy is going into helping my state through this crisis unlike one that we’ve seen in 100 years in this country,” she said. “We have to get it right, and I was elected to be the governor of the state of Michigan. It is the honor of a lifetime, and that’s where I’m spending 100 percent of my energy and focus.”

She went on to add, “It was just an opening conversation, and it’s not something that I would call a professional, formalized vetting. I’m making a little bit of time to stay connected to the campaign, but the most important thing that I have to do right now is be the governor of my home state. That’s all that matters to me in this moment.”