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Gretchen Whitmer: “Every Michigander 25 and older can earn an associate's…”

Featuring: Gretchen Whitmer, Democratic | Governor of Michigan

LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address

Published February 26, 2026 | Video Starts at 40:06

Every student gets more mental health resources, financial literacy skills and personalized instruction. Every graduate can go to their community college tuition free. And every. Yeah, Every Michigander 25 and older can earn an associate's degree or certificate tuition free too. And no child goes hungry in Michigan schools because all 1.4 million public school students get free breakfast and lunch. And you know what? This year, let's make that permanent. (40:06–40:14)

CLAIM

Asserts that Michiganders 25 and older can earn an associate's degree or certificate tuition-free.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Gretchen Whitmer

“More people moved into Michigan from other states than out for the first time since the early 90s.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:30-10:37
“Tariffs have jacked up prices, costing families an average of 1000 bucks a year.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 11:16-11:22
“Last year America had its worst manufacturing trade deficit ever, while China clocked their highest trade surplus ever, $1.2 trillion.”
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“Just one in five homes today are sold to first time home buyers. That is an all time low.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 22:48-22:56
“The median age of a first time home buyer is 40. That's a record high.”
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“The average income of first time homebuyers is $97,000, also an all time high.”
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“Tariffs have raised the cost of a house by upwards of 17 grand.”
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“Mental health finally covered equally to physical health by law, making Michigan the first state to get that done.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 31:15-31:25
“The day I took office, 1.5 million Michiganders made under $15 an hour. The day I leave, it will be almost zero.”
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“We're the first state to ever restart a nuclear power plant. And we're going to do it at Palisades.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 45:38-45:45
“For the first time in nearly 70 years, Detroit's population grew.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 45:57-46:01
“I am eager to work with you all again on our last balanced bipartisan budget.”
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“Let's get it done on time. June 30th.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 05:10-05:14
“Wages and GDP are up. Crime and overdose deaths are down.”
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“Pre K school meals and community colleges are all free.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:17-10:21
“Taxes on retirement tips, overtime and Social Security gone.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 10:21-10:26
“We fixed more roads, built more homes and replaced more lead pipes than ever.”
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“I'm hopeful that last week's Supreme Court decision will force Congress and the President to work out a more strategic trade policy.”
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“Michigan is 44th in fourth grade reading.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 14:46-14:50
“Every budget I've introduced, negotiated and signed these last seven years made record investments in education.”
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“In late 2024, I signed science of Reading legislation, a statewide strategy that uses proven methods to teach reading that includes phonics.”
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“Previously, our schools used over 400 different literacy teaching methods.”
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“Soon we'll also screen every student for dyslexia, identifying kids who need extra help and ensuring that they get it.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 16:38-16:47
“I just released my final executive budget recommendation, which included the largest targeted literacy investment in Michigan history.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 18:11-18:20
“The data tells us that students who attend Pre K are far more likely to read and do math at or above grade level.”
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“So this year, let's fund free full day pre K for all and set every child up for success.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 19:28-19:36
“We've invested more to build housing than any administration in state history.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 24:46-24:51
“We set and smashed our goal of adding 75,000 homes a year ahead of schedule. We're at 86,000 now.”
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“We closed our housing gap by 44%.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 25:02-25:05
“Our home ownership rate remains higher than the national average at almost 75%.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 25:05-25:12
“We helped more than 6,000 Michiganders buy their first homes last year with record setting mortgage and down payment assistance loans.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 25:19-25:28
“Michigan's the only state in our region without [a state level affordable housing tax credit].”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 26:11-26:15
“Last year, the majority in Washington D.C. voted to slash Medicaid and SNAP by a trillion dollars, ripping health care and food away from…”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 29:15-29:27
“They went home and did nothing and let premiums on the Affordable Care act skyrocket.”
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“Renew the ACA subsidies. Provide real relief to Michiganders.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 29:36-29:42
“Insurers can't charge more for pre-existing conditions.”
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“Young people can stay on their parents plans until they turn 26.”
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“There are no more surprise medical bills and no caps on annual or lifetime care.”
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“Last year we wiped out medical debt for 210,000 people.”
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“Federal cuts would put two and a half million Michiganders, a quarter of our population, at risk of losing their coverage.”
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“Our budget protected billions in funding for core Medicaid services.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 33:40-33:45
“I propose a significant investment to stabilize Medicaid funding.”
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“In 2014, as the minority Leader in the Michigan Senate, I worked with Governor Snyder to expand Medicaid under the aca.”
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“1 million Michigan seniors will no longer pay the retirement tax because we repealed it.”
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“665,000 working families get refunds averaging 3,900 bucks because we increase the working families tax credit by 500%.”
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“800,000 workers will keep more of their hard earned paychecks because we ended state taxes on tiffs and overtime.”
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“We raised the rainy day fund to record highs and enacted seven balanced budgets.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 37:10-37:16
“We're a top 10 state for doing business for the third year in a row.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 37:15-37:19
“We improved our credit rating and will pay off $28 billion in debt.”
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“We've replaced 70,000 lead pipes and upgraded water infrastructure statewide.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 37:54-38:01
“Since I took office, through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed 26,500 lane miles of road and almost 2,000 bridges.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 38:46-38:55
“Every student in every school gets the same resources because we finally closed the funding gap.”
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“Every 4 year old can go to pre K for free, saving their parents 14 grand a year.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 39:46-39:53
“All 1.4 million public school students get free breakfast and lunch.”
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“Abortion is a constitutional right.”
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“Women control their own bodies, lives and future in the state of Michigan.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 42:00-42:05
“Black Michiganders can wear their hair natural without discrimination.”
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“We finally have common sense gun violence prevention laws, background checks, safe storage, extreme risk protection order.”
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“LGBTQ Michiganders are protected against discrimination in their homes and at work. By law.”
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“Michigan is open for business. New factories making batteries, cars, ships are opening in Marshall, Lake Orion, Holland Bay City, Calumet…”
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“A new fighter mission is coming to Selfridge Air National Guard base in Macomb County.”
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“We're the first state to restore workers' right to organize for better pay and benefits in 70 years.”
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“For the first time in 40 years, we opened a new veterans home.”
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“For the first time in over a century, a new bridge connecting Michigan to Canada, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, will open.”
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“Our state is full of good, honest, hard working people who care deeply about their families and want to make their communities better.”
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“It's Republicans, Democrats and independents who put politics aside to solve problems.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 49:30-49:37
“Social media platforms that were supposed to bring us together have made us distrust and in some cases despise our fellow Americans.”
LIVE | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address | Uploaded February 26, 2026 | 50:03-50:12
“Through a destructive pandemic, devastating floods, deep freezes, and deadly shootings, I've seen that tough times don't last, but tough…”
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“Because of you, the state of our state is strong.”
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