Winnie Brinks

Winnie Theresa Brinks (née De Vries) is an American politician and the lieutenant-governor-elect of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, since 2013 Brinks has served as a state representative and state senator, becoming majority leader of the Michigan Senate in 2023; she is the first woman to hold the office, and the first Democrat to do so since William Faust left office in 1984. Brinks previously worked as an executive at a non-profit. In the House, she served on the Workforce and Talent Development, Education, Health Policy, and Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committees. She also serves as chair of the Progressive Women's Caucus, a non-profit organization that addresses concerns about women's health, pay equity, economic security and gender violence.