LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer departed on a trade trip to Japan and Singapore over the Labor Day weekend. However, she leaves the state in limbo.

A lawsuit forces Whitmer to call a special election.

Whitmer’s trip comes right after a lawsuit filed by residents forced her to call a special election in the state’s 35th Senate District. At the time of the filing, the district’s 270,000 voters lingered without representation for more than 200 days. Former State Senator (D) Kristen McDonald Rivet served previously but was elected and sworn into the U.S. House in January.

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The special election primary and general elections will take place in 2026.

Budget blues.

In addition, Whitmer’s trip comes as the Oct. 1 state budget deadline looms. The GOP-House submitted a $79 billion budget proposal with a 3% cut over the current budget.

The Democratic-led Senate must now come up with its own plan and come to an agreement with the House and Whitmer in less than 30 days. If a budget isn’t reached by then, essential state services could be put on hold.

The MEDC’s ongoing investigation.

Just like in previous trips Whitmer took to Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia, Whitmer is traveling with the MEDC which is under investigation over state-allocated funds going to a nonprofit of Whitmer donor Faye Beydoun. She also served on the board of the MEDC and spent half-a-million dollars of taxpayer money on her salary.

Whitmer’s justification for her travels.

Whitmer explained the reasoning for her journey in a Monday press release. “[This trip underscores] Michigan’s commitment to strengthening global relationships and welcoming international business investment, even amid economic and federal uncertainty,” the press release said.

However, Michigan-based Republican strategist Greg Manz told Michigan News Source that Whitmer’s timing is baffling.

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“It’s mind-boggling how Governor Whitmer always finds the time and taxpayer dollars for fancy globe-trotting junkets, yet she’s MIA when it comes to hammering out a roads plan that doesn’t hike taxes on hardworking Michigan families from Marquette to Monroe,” Manz said. “Just like the Senate Majority Leader [Democrat Winnie Brinks], she’s MIA on budget talks with Speaker Hall — plenty of photo-ops, zero pavement progress.”