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GW
Michigan•In office since 2019•Party: D

Gretchen Whitmer

Serving as Governor of Michigan since 2019. Evaluation based on verified public data.

Overall GradeC
50.4 / 100
Ranked #36 of 50 nationally
At a glanceComputed from the data below — no opinions.
  • An overall grade of C places this governor in the middle of the pack nationally — ranked #36 of 50.
  • In office 7 years — current results are fully attributable to this administration.
  • Since taking office, this governor has outpaced the national trend on 10 of 20 tracked metrics, lagged on 3, and moved with the country on 7.
  • Strongest area: Fiscal Health (B). Weakest: Public Safety (D).
Category

Economy

100
49.0 / 100C
Unemployment Rate
C
3.8%
National avg 3.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 36 of 5030 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 4.0%
Category

Fiscal Health

400
63.1 / 100B
State Debt per Capita
C
$3,200
National avg $3,580
improving faster than US
Rank 33 of 5036 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $3,850
Rainy Day Fund
A+
17.0%
National avg 14.0%
improving faster than US
Rank 21 of 5059 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 11.0%
State & Local Tax Burden
B-
9.8%
National avg 11.2%
declining slower than US
Rank 20 of 5061 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 9.7%
Credit Rating
C+
85
National avg 90
improving faster than US
Rank 39 of 5023 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 78
Category

Education

010
39.1 / 100D+
High School Graduation Rate
D+
82.8%
National avg 87.0%
improving with US
Rank 43 of 5014 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 81.4%
Category

Health

251
52.2 / 100C+
Age-Adjusted Mortality
C
429 / 100k
National avg 407 / 100k
declining with US
Rank 32 of 5037 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 368 / 100k
Infant Mortality
C-
6.457
National avg 5.628
improving with US
Rank 37 of 5027 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 6.665
Adult Obesity
B-
34.6%
National avg 33.5%
declining slower than US
Rank 28 of 5046 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 32.0%
Adult Smoking
D+
16.0%
National avg 13.2%
improving slower than US
Rank 37 of 5028 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 19.3%
Suicide Rate
C+
14 / 100k
National avg 14 / 100k
declining with US
Rank 18 of 5065 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14 / 100k
Life Expectancy
C-
76.4 yrs
National avg 77.5 yrs
declining with US
Rank 34 of 5034 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 77.1 yrs
Uninsured Rate (Under 65)
B-
5.4%
National avg 8.6%
improving with US
Rank 7 of 5089 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 6.7%
Drug Overdose Death Rate
B+
33 / 100k
National avg 34 / 100k
declining slower than US
Rank 23 of 5055 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 24 / 100k
Category

Infrastructure

100
57.2 / 100B-
Bridges in Poor Condition
B-
5.4%
National avg 6.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 25 of 5052 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 5.8%
Category

Opportunity

111
42.6 / 100C-
Food Insecurity
C
14.2%
National avg 13.5%
declining slower than US
Rank 38 of 5024 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 13.7%
Poverty Rate
D+
13.1%
National avg 11.5%
improving slower than US
Rank 36 of 5030 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 13.6%
Median Household Income
C-
$68,505
National avg $74,580
improving with US
Rank 35 of 5031 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $54,909
Category

Public Safety

001
32.5 / 100D
Violent Crime Rate
D
478 / 100k
National avg 380 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 41 of 5018 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 449 / 100k
Category

Environment

100
61.3 / 100B-
Drinking Water Violations
B-
25.3%
National avg 44.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 14 of 4973 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 26.5%

How this grade is built

Each metric gets two scores: where the state ranks among all 50 states (30%) and how its pace compared to the national trend during this governor's tenure (70%). Metric scores are averaged within eight equally-weighted pillars — Economy, Fiscal Health, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Opportunity, Public Safety, Environment — then the composite is curved across the cohort so grades spread A–F.

Full methodology →