Hotline On Call

State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich., said today that she won't challenge Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich., in 2014, as it would take too much time away from her role as a mother. The move comes as a surprise as Whitmer was seen to be positioning herself for a possible bid.

Whitmer has been an outspoken critic of Snyder since he signed right-to-work legislation late in 2012, rarely missing an opportunity to publicly bash the first-term governor. The splash page on her website promising a 2014 takedown of Snyder added to speculation she was preparing a run.

With Whitmer out of the race, attention may turn to former Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Mich., who has done some recent spotlight-seeking of his own. Schaeur made news when he was pepper sprayed during protests at the state Capitol and recently attacked Snyder in an op-ed that questioned his ability to lead and hit a checklist of progressive talking points.

Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., has also been floated as a candidate, but is seen as more likely to mount a Senate bid if Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., retires. Democratic strategist Joe DiSano told Hotline last month Peters has "decided one way or another that he's going to make his mark in Washington, D.C."