Richard Tharrett

Chai Karve: The Governor’s Speechwriter

Two years ago, Chai Karve landed his dream job.

After working for years to hone his writing skills and political savvy, Karve moved from D.C. to

Lansing to become Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s chief speech writer in February 2021.

Coming from the bustling environment of capitol hill politics as an intern for Nancy Pelosi and

the intense world of political campaigning as a speech writer for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential

campaign, you might think entering the perhaps not-so-intense world of Michigan politics would

be a way for Karve to slow the pace.

But Karve likes the speed.

“The executive office is very unique in that it feels like we’re running a campaign,” Karve

explained. “I just like this kind of speed. It’s how I do best”.

Karve chases the excitement and speed that comes along with trying to make a real impact in

public service. He loves working in the governor’s office because there is a goal, a message, and

something to strive towards. As the governor’s speechwriter, he’s both humbled and empowered

by the impact he can have to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

In college, Karve thought he would work in the film industry as a scriptwriter. However, he

wanted to be a part of something bigger. That was politics.

“When you’re making movies, all that stuff seems very nebulous,” Karve told me. “I like when

there’s a big mission that we’re trying to do.”

Even though he didn’t end up making movies, Karve took his knack for storytelling and muscle

for writing and translated those skills into the field of public service where he felt like he could
have the greatest impact. He’s always known he wanted a pace that is a little fast. When there’s

not much to do, he gets antsy. The governor’s office has delivered.

“The volume is nuts,” Karve stressed.

In his two years with the governor, Karve has written over 500 speeches, three dozen op-eds, and

hundreds of press releases. He is responsible for writing practically everything that’s in the voice

of Governor Whitmer in addition to helping lead the communications department to build events

to communicate a unified message for the governor’s initiatives.

On top of that, as the chief speechwriter, he always has to know what the governor would say. If

something happens, how would she respond? Adding pressure, the governor trusts him as the

speechwriter to shape the message, he told me.

“That’s a blessing and curse — you get to have the reaction and often you get to shape it,” Karve

told me. “Hundreds of politicians have given speeches about these topics over decades, but every

time it has to be great.”

I spoke to Karve over Zoom. He was in his home office where he does most of his writing. His

lights were set just right — coffee at the ready. This is his domain.

Despite his fast-paced occupation and quick-turnaround responsibilities, Karve never seems in a

hurry. Always, composed, calm, and collected, Karve is deliberate in choosing his words and

means what he says. He told me he’s learned that it’s important to be careful and deliberate both

when he writes and when he works with his team.

“The advice I would give to someone starting a new job is to be more intentional about learning

when you start. Don’t pretend like you know everything,” said Karve.

Karve leads the internship program for the governor’s office and is passionate about talent

development.
“I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere in this unless somebody took a chance,” said Karve.

Extending his search for making an impact, Karve also works with several civic youth

organizations to foster civic engagement among young people.

Karve told me he doesn’t know what will come next for him after Governor Whitmer leaves the

governor’s mansion.

But he won’t be slowing down any time soon.