Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that she won’t run for president in 2028, removing a marquee name from Democratic primary contention.

“I think there will be a robust group of people running for president,” she told a Detroit television station. “I will not be one of them in 2028, I can tell you that.”

The two-term governor, long seen as a potential contender for the Oval Office, is one of the first to seemingly remove themselves from what’s expected to be a crowded slate of candidates looking to succeed President Donald Trump. The Democratic field could eventually include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, among other hopefuls.

Whitmer, who was speaking from the state’s annual policy conference in Mackinac Island, is barred from seeking another term as governor due to term limits.

Whitmer said she’s looking forward to taking “a little bit of a break.” She’s spoken with Democrats Gina Raimondo and Pete Buttigieg, as well as Paul Ryan, the former Republican House speaker, for guidance on transitioning out of the political arena.

“That’s the advice everyone says, take a little bit of time,” she said. “And so that’s what I’m going to do.”

Whitmer’s decision — ahead of the midterms, where her successor will be elected in the battleground state — is unusually early. And while would-be hopefuls have long said some variation of their lack of intent to run for president only to later launch candidacies, Whitmer has hinted before that she may not run for the post.

A Whitmer spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Whitmer’s second term in office has been marked by a productive relationship with the White House, which some Democrats speculate could hurt her future political ambitions. She bristled when the president praised her during an Oval Office visit last April, and covered her face with blue folders as the press snapped photos.

But Whitmer has maintained that it has been beneficial for her state.

Trump announced a new F-15 fighter mission for suburban Detroit’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base several weeks later, a maneuver Whitmer’s office said could generate $850 million for Michigan.

“All the grief — this shows you why you put the people first,” she told POLITICO. “They see it, and it pays off.”

Adam Wren contributed to this report from Mackinac Island, Michigan.