Michigan Governor's Chief of Staff Consulted for Democratic Governors Association, Raising Ethical Questions
JoAnne Huls, the former chief of staff for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, received payments from the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) for consulting services while still serving in her state government role. Huls, who was part of Whitmer's administration since January 2019, formed a consulting firm, Freshwater Strategies, in December 2025. Shortly after, the DGA began paying her firm a monthly fee of $7,500, totaling $52,500 by the end of June 2026. This arrangement has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as Whitmer had previously signed an executive directive in 2019 prohibiting executive branch employees from engaging in outside employment that conflicts with their official duties. Despite these concerns, Whitmer's spokesperson stated that Huls' consulting work was consistent with state ethics and employment rules, as it was conducted on personal time without using state resources. 
