Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver later State of the State this year

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Jan 17, 2025

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LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her seventh State of the State address on Feb. 26, weeks later into the year than the annual speech has been held in at least three decades.

On Friday, Whitmer, a second-term Democrat, and new state House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, confirmed the date for the event, which traditionally takes place before a joint session of the state Legislature inside the House chamber.

"Michigan is a state on the move as we continue working together to create good-paying jobs, fix our roads and invest in our students and schools," Whitmer said in a written statement. "I look forward to delivering my 2025 State of the State Address where I will lay out my plan to build on our years of strong, bipartisan progress and strategic, fiscally responsible leadership."

The latest into a year that Whitmer previously gave her State of the State address was Feb. 12 in 2019. That year, her speech was delayed from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12 to avoid a conflict with Republican President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.

Last year, Whitmer gave her State of the State address on Jan. 24, when she called on lawmakers to retool Michigan's economic development programs to boost the manufacturing of batteries and the production of clean energy.

The governor told reporters on Wednesday that generally, the State of the State address takes place during the third week of January. However, Trump's inauguration for his second term will occur on Monday, Whitmer noted.

"I wanted to be respectful (that) the president will take the oath of office next week," Whitmer said. "And I know of the leadership up in Lansing will be out there."

Whitmer gave a State of the State-like speech at the Detroit Auto Show on Wednesday, where she urged legislators to take action on economic development and road improvements.

"I am sure some of the themes will be in the State of the State eventually, as well. But that's not going to be for a while," Whitmer told reporters after the Wednesday speech.

The House was under Democratic control in 2023 and 2024. But Republicans have now won back a majority in the chamber, with Hall holding the top position.

In a letter to the governor's office on Thursday, Hall confirmed the Feb. 26 date for the State of the State address.

"Perhaps your address on Feb. 26 will be the right time to share the details of your plan to solve our state's longtime roads and infrastructure crisis," Hall wrote, referencing the fact that Whitmer's speech on Wednesday didn't include a specific proposal to improve Michigan's roads.

Hall has touted his own plan to shift $3.1 billion in existing revenues to roads.

Whitmer told reporters Wednesday she was seeking a "compromise" with state lawmakers.

“We’re going to have to probably make some cuts," the governor said. "We’re probably going to have to find some revenue that makes some sense for us.”

The Michigan Senate is currently controlled by Democrats.

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