Blanchard commenced practice as an attorney in Lansing and served as legal advisor to the Michigan Secretary of State in 1968 and 1969. He was Assistant Attorney General of Michigan, from 1969 to 1974, administrative assistant to the attorney general from 1970 to 1971, and assistant deputy attorney general from 1971 to 1972. In 1974 he joined the law firm of Beer and Boltz, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
U.S. Representative
Blanchard was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 18th District for the 94th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1975 to January 1, 1983. During that time, he was responsible for legislation providing federal loan guarantees for Chrysler Corporation that saved the company from a likely bankruptcy.
Governor of Michigan
Blanchard as governor.
Blanchard opted not to run for re-election to the U.S. House in 1982 and was elected Governor of Michigan, defeating RepublicanRichard Headlee, a Farmington Hills insurance company executive.[1] Blanchard served two terms as governor (1983–1991) until his defeat by Republican state senator John Engler in 1990.[2] Blanchard was the first Democratic governor to serve in 20 years since John Swainson, who left office in 1963.
On January 1, 1983, he took over what was described as "the toughest governor's job in America." His state faced a $1.7 billion deficit, the threat of bankruptcy, record high unemployment of more than 17 percent and the worst credit rating in America. Working with leaders of business, labor, education and local government, the governor put together a strategy for Michigan's future and raised income taxes and fees necessary to keep it on track. Blanchard completed his work as Michigan's 45th governor having balanced eight consecutive state budgets, improving the state's credit rating, established a $422 million "rainy-day fund," and producing a solvency dividend of more than $1 billion in savings from reduced borrowing costs.
Newsweek credited Governor Blanchard with leading "one of the most dramatic economic turnabouts in the recent history of state government," and national publications such as U.S. News & World Report listed him among the best governors in America, one of the innovators and energizers who made things work in an era of declining federal aid. However, in 1990 Blanchard lost his campaign for a third term to State SenatorJohn Engler.[3][4]
Later career
After losing the gubernatorial election to John Engler in 1990, Blanchard became a partner in the Washington law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. He also chaired Bill Clinton's successful campaign for president in Michigan in 1992.
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