Helen Milliken

Helen Wallbank Milliken (December 4, 1922

Biography

Early life Milliken was born Helen Wallbank on December 4, 1922, in Colorado,

Support for the Equal Rights Amendment Milliken served as First Lady for fourteen years, the longest tenure of any First Lady in state history. In this role, she became known as a proponent of women's rights and environmentalism. The ERA had been passed by the United States Congress in 1972 and was ratified by thirty-five states, including Michigan, in the next years. When the 1980 Republican National Convention, held in Detroit, removed language supporting the ERA from the convention platform, First Lady Helen Milliken boycotted the convention's opening ceremony to attend a pro-ERA protest.

Post-statehouse In 1994, Democratic Michigan gubernatorial nominee Howard Wolpe asked Helen Milliken to be his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. She declined Wolpe's offer. Wolfe selected then State Senator Debbie Stabenow as his running mate. He was defeated in the 1994 general election by incumbent Republican Michigan Governor John Engler.

While Helen Milliken largely avoided political campaigns during her later life, she endorsed two prominent Democrats for election. Milliken endorsed Jennifer Granholm for Governor of Michigan, as well as Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry, during the 2004 U.S. presidential election.