Dems turn page to Michigan

A politician seen as a potential “replacement” for aging President Biden is taking another step onto the national stage — by rushing out a book, Page Six is told.

Sources exclusively tell us Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sold a book — usually seen as a prerequisite for anyone setting out to run for the highest office in the land — that’s expected to be out as soon as June.

A publishing insider told us that Whitmer “just signed a big seven-figure book deal with Simon & Schuster, at auction, for a book to be rushed out as soon as possible.”

Whitmer’s deal comes as her name is increasingly being mentioned as a top-tier contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 — or earlier, if Biden’s health rapidly declines — a well-connected Democratic source told us.

“If Joe Biden croaked tomorrow, there are . . . people who would absolutely pave the runway for Gretchen to land in the Oval [Office] in either a presidential or VP role,” the source said.

“The [Democratic] Party apparatus really sees her as the future in a way that is less glossy and annoying” than California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the insider added.

Indeed, before launching his current campaign to oust Biden from the Democratic nomination, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) said he would like to see Whitmer — or another “moderate governor, hopefully from the heartland” — challenge Biden, 81.

But the Michigan governor, 52, is serving as a co-chair of the Biden 2024 campaign and has said she supports him as president.

Reps did not get back to us with comment. Whitmer, whose second term as governor will end in 2026, told Fox 2 Detroit last month that she could potentially pen a book. “At some point, that might be something I want to do,” she said. She then added coyly, “At some point . . . at some point, I feel like maybe there’s a short book to write, maybe sooner, talking about different pieces of my philosophy.”