Whaley grew up in Indiana, but she has lived in Ohio since attending the University of Dayton from 1994 to 1998, where she earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

[9] GoreNet was a group that supported the Al Gore campaign with a focus on grassroots and online organizing as well as hosting small dollar donor events.

[12] In 2017, she was unopposed for reelection, making it the first uncontested mayoral race in the city's history since voters have elected the office separately.

[17] In 2015, Site Selection magazine named Dayton, which has strong economic ties to the nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the overall second-best mid-sized city for new business expansion projects in the nation.

[18] In response to a statewide surge in opioid-related drug overdoses, Whaley declared a citywide state of emergency and developed a needle exchange program.

[19] Whaley has been consistently critical of the Government of Ohio for failing to adequately fund opioid treatment and recovery programs.

[21] The City of Learners initiative was launched by Whaley in early 2014 as a citywide effort to support Dayton's schools and students.

[28] After a mass shooting occurred on August 4, 2019, she and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown accompanied President Donald Trump on a visit with survivors at the local hospital.

The group included Dee Margo, the mayor of El Paso, Texas, where a shooting occurred the day before.

Ahead of the 2018 election cycle, Whaley considered a run for Congress before declaring her candidacy for governor of Ohio.