Gretchen Whitmer re-elected as Michigan governor

• Whitmer's use of emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was heralded by supporters and widely criticized by Republican rivals, incited a kidnapping plot against her that has led to seven men pleading guilty to playing roles in the conspiracy.

Between the lines: Whitmer positioned herself as a moderate during her campaign, welcoming the support of former Republicans, police and the business community.

• Whitmer, who far outspent Dixon during the campaign, was supported heavily by outside groups as her national profile rose during her first term as governor.

The other side: Dixon was not known in political circles until petition fraud rocked Michigan's gubernatorial race ahead of the primary, but she showed prowess during the debates.

• It's unknown what Dixon's political future could hold. She earned the support of Michigan's most influential Republican donors — the DeVos family — and soon afterward became the favored candidate among Republican state lawmakers.