Granholm was sworn in as the 47th Governor of the state of Michigan on January 1, 2003.
Upon her inauguration, in addition to becoming the state's first female governor, she also became its third governor who was not a natural-born citizen of the United States and its fourth who was not born within the United States.
The earlier two non-natural-born citizens were Fred M. Warner, who was born in England and was the 26th Governor from 1905 to 1911; and John Swainson, who was also born in Canada and was the 42nd Governor from 1961 to 1963.
George W. Romney, who was born in Mexico and was the 27th Governor from 1963 to 1969, was a natural-born citizen by virtue of his parents' U.S. citizenship at the time of his birth.

Granholm emphasized Michigan's need to attract young people and businesses via the Cool Cities Initiative.
As governor, she was a member of the National Governors Association, chairing its Health and Human Services Committee and co‑chairing its Health Care Task Force.
She is also a former chair of the Midwestern Governors Association.
She lived in the official Michigan Governor's Residence, located near the Capitol Building.

In 2003, Granholm ran five miles across the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the state's two peninsulas, in 47 minutes during the Mackinac Bridge Walk.
Her run began a new tradition, and 2004 saw the first annual Governor's Labor Day Bridge Run held hours before the Annual Bridge Walk.
This time she finished the run in under 45 minutes.

During Granholm's first year in office, she made a significant number of budget cuts to deal with a $1.7 billion deficit (about 2% of the annual state budget).
She was upset by proposals to cut state funding to social welfare programs, such as homeless shelters and mental health agencies.
During an interview, she reflected on her view of the proper perspective of budget cuts:
Often those who cloak themselves in a cape of religiosity happen to be some who are the biggest cutters.
Now, some of that can balance out.
But when you get to cutting the services for the least of these – in the 25th chapter of Matthew in the 37th verse the Lord says, 'Whatsoever you do to the least of these, so also you do unto me' – that's when I question whether somebody is really living out the faith that they profess".
The interviewer noted that Granholm would be criticized, but she hoped that everyone would "keep those values in mind ... through the budget process".
Betsy DeVos, the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (1996–2000, 2003-05), was upset that Granholm had decided "to cloak her views on balancing the budget in religious terms in order to demonize her political opponents".
Granholm responded that she did not think her response was controversial and said that many people of faith were serving in state government.

Granholm has been a proponent of education reform since the first year of her term.
In her first State of the State Address in 2003, Granholm announced Project Great Start to focus on reforming education for children from birth to age 5.
Project Great Start has coordinated public and private efforts to encourage educating new parents and encouraging parents to read to their children.

Granholm emphasized post-secondary education for Michiganders following the decline in Michigan manufacturing jobs, many of which did not require a college degree.
In 2004 she asked Lt.
 Governor John D. Cherry to lead the Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth to double the number of college graduates in Michigan.
Many of the Commission's recommendations were enacted into law during Granholm's tenure as governor, e.g., increasing high school graduation standards (The Michigan Merit Curriculum) so that every Michigan high school student takes a college preparatory curriculum, which includes four years of math and English/language arts and three years of science and social studies, beginning with students who entered high school in the fall of 2006.

At an awards ceremony on October 28, 2004, Granholm was inducted into the "Michigan Women's Hall of Fame".
She has also
Granholm was sworn in as the 47th Governor of the state of Michigan on January 1, 2003. Upon her inauguration, in addition to becoming the state's first female governor, she also became its third governor who was not a natural-born citizen of the United States and its fourth who was not born within the United States. The earlier two non-natural-born citizens were Fred M. Warner, who was born in England and was the 26th Governor from 1905 to 1911; and John Swainson, who was also born in Canada and was the 42nd Governor from 1961 to 1963. George W. Romney, who was born in Mexico and was the 27th Governor from 1963 to 1969, was a natural-born citizen by virtue of his parents' U.S. citizenship at the time of his birth.
Granholm emphasized Michigan's need to attract young people and businesses via the Cool Cities Initiative. As governor, she was a member of the National Governors Association, chairing its Health and Human Services Committee and co‑chairing its Health Care Task Force. She is also a former chair of the Midwestern Governors Association. She lived in the official Michigan Governor's Residence, located near the Capitol Building.
In 2003, Granholm ran five miles across the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the state's two peninsulas, in 47 minutes during the Mackinac Bridge Walk. Her run began a new tradition, and 2004 saw the first annual Governor's Labor Day Bridge Run held hours before the Annual Bridge Walk. This time she finished the run in under 45 minutes.
During Granholm's first year in office, she made a significant number of budget cuts to deal with a $1.7 billion deficit (about 2% of the annual state budget). She was upset by proposals to cut state funding to social welfare programs, such as homeless shelters and mental health agencies. During an interview, she reflected on her view of the proper perspective of budget cuts:
Often those who cloak themselves in a cape of religiosity happen to be some who are the biggest cutters. Now, some of that can balance out. But when you get to cutting the services for the least of these – in the 25th chapter of Matthew in the 37th verse the Lord says, 'Whatsoever you do to the least of these, so also you do unto me' – that's when I question whether somebody is really living out the faith that they profess". The interviewer noted that Granholm would be criticized, but she hoped that everyone would "keep those values in mind ... through the budget process". Betsy DeVos, the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (1996–2000, 2003-05), was upset that Granholm had decided "to cloak her views on balancing the budget in religious terms in order to demonize her political opponents". Granholm responded that she did not think her response was controversial and said that many people of faith were serving in state government.
Granholm has been a proponent of education reform since the first year of her term. In her first State of the State Address in 2003, Granholm announced Project Great Start to focus on reforming education for children from birth to age 5. Project Great Start has coordinated public and private efforts to encourage educating new parents and encouraging parents to read to their children.
Granholm emphasized post-secondary education for Michiganders following the decline in Michigan manufacturing jobs, many of which did not require a college degree. In 2004 she asked Lt. Governor John D. Cherry to lead the Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth to double the number of college graduates in Michigan. Many of the Commission's recommendations were enacted into law during Granholm's tenure as governor, e.g., increasing high school graduation standards (The Michigan Merit Curriculum) so that every Michigan high school student takes a college preparatory curriculum, which includes four years of math and English/language arts and three years of science and social studies, beginning with students who entered high school in the fall of 2006.
At an awards ceremony on October 28, 2004, Granholm was inducted into the "Michigan Women's Hall of Fame". She has also
Jennifer Granholm