RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Send Open Letter to Michigan College Students

LANSING, Mich. ? Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist released a letter to students at colleges and universities across Michigan, sharing their priorities for Michigan's young people and thanking them for participating in the midterm elections last week, which set records for voter turnout.

The text of the letter can be found below:

Dear students,

These last few years have been anything but normal. But through it all, you have continued learning, growing, and still finding time for joy. We are proud of you.

As parents ourselves, we always look forward to hearing about campus life -- about students discovering their passions, finding their people, or exploring future paths. That spirit that lives in our campuses is the best of Michigan and of our nation. It is a sense of optimism and possibility, an energy that will power us forward in the decades to come.

We saw that energy in record-setting voter turnout on college campuses last week. No matter why you went to the polls or who you voted for, thank you. You waited in line -- sometimes for hour -- to make your voice heard. Thank you for participating in our democracy and please know that it's our goal that you never have to face those long wait times again! It is our honor to serve you for four more years, and we promise that we will work hard every day to make you proud.

Your success is Michigan's success, and we will work with anyone to make sure that you can build your future here in our beautiful state. When it comes time to decide where you want to live, work, start a business, or raise a family, we want the answer to be Michigan. That mission will drive all the work that we do in Lansing. Together, we will continue getting things done to improve your on-campus life, protect your reproductive freedom, and ensure you have every opportunity to succeed when you graduate.

Let's keep moving Michigan forward together. And before we go -- drink plenty of water, eat a vegetable, get enough sleep, and be safe.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II