Potential Biden ‘replacement’ Gov. Gretchen Whitmer inks ‘seven-figure deal’ for book to be released as soon as June: sources
A politician seen as a potential “replacement” for aging President Biden is taking another, somewhat speedy step onto the national stage by rushing out a book, Page Six is told.
Sources exclusively tell Page Six that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sold a book — usually seen as a prerequisite for anyone setting out to run for the highest office in the land — that is expected to be on shelves as soon as June.
A publishing insider told us that Whitmer “just signed a big, seven-figure book deal with Simon & Schuster, at auction, for a book to be rushed out as soon as possible.”
Whitmer’s deal comes as her name is increasingly being mentioned as a top-tier contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 — or earlier, if Biden’s health declines rapidly — a well-connected Democratic source told us.
The timing of the publication should have political tongues wagging.
“If Joe Biden croaked tomorrow, there are … people who would absolutely pave the runway for Gretchen to land in the Oval [Office] in either a presidential or VP role,” the source said.
“The [Democratic] Party apparatus really sees her as the future in a way that is less glossy and annoying compared to [California Gov.] Gavin [Newsom],” the insider added.
Indeed, before launching his own quixotic White House run this past October, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) said he would like to see Whitmer — or another “moderate governor, hopefully from the heartland” — challenge Biden, 81.
But the Michigan governor, 52, is serving as a co-chair of the Biden 2024 campaign, and has said she supports him as president.
Reps for the publisher and Whitmer did not immediately comment.
Last month, Whitmer told Fox 2 Detroit during a sit-down interview that she could potentially pen a book. “At some point, that might be something I want to do,” she said.
She then added coyly, “At some point … at some point, I feel like maybe there’s a short book to write, maybe sooner, talking about different pieces of my philosophy.”
Simon & Schuster is known for publishing books by politicians including Mike Pence, Chris Christie and Ted Cruz, as well as pundits such as Rush Limbaugh, Bob Woodward, Jeffrey Toobin and David Gergen.
