Why Garlin Gilchrist II is running for governor, in his own words

Michigan's lieutenant governor is taking what he learned under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to his campaign for the state's top office.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist at a Black Voters for Biden event in June, 2024. Photo: Samuel Robinson

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II views himself as a problem solver and fixer.

Before becoming lieutenant governor in 2018, Gilchrist was an engineer and political operative, whose rise to the second highest office in state government came after a close 2017 election loss to Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey.

He left Michigan after college in Ann Arbor at UofM and compiled an extensive work history. His LinkedIn profile includes roles as a blog author and podcast host, an Obama campaign social media manager, Microsoft software engineer, media strategist and city of Detroit employee.

Gilchrist and I spoke about his campaign for governor in a phone interview last Friday. Detroit one million first reported last week Gilchrist will launch his campaign Tuesday evening at Jam Handy in New Center.

Gilchrist released an announcement video Tuesday morning highlighting his work in Whitmer’s administration and making clear his vision for Michigan is to be a nation leader in innovation and “jobs of the future.”

Affordability, housing, childcare and mental health services are all issues Gilchrist said he would continue to build on the work he started under Whitmer if he were elected. He told me the deep connections with residents across the state and the awareness of needs he’s come to understand over the past six years make him best equipped to become the Democratic nominee for governor next fall.

He spoke candidly about the biggest difference between himself and his boss, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and drew back to the instincts he gained as an engineer. He also joined the field of gubernatorial candidates who have told me artificial intelligence could shake up Michigan’s economy.

Gilchrist isn’t shy about taking a different posture than the governor while talking about President Donald Trump, “but the goals are the same,” he told me last month.

Gilchrist accused the president and Elon Musk of “breaking commitments to this state and attacking Michiganders everyday,” in his campaign announcement video.

As lieutenant governor, Gilchrist worked closely with Whitmer to implement her agenda, but also points to several efforts he led on his own. He helped create a fund to support tech startups, led a task force during the pandemic to address the disparities that existed in COVID deaths, and signed legislation investing in diversion and re-entry services for kids exiting the state’s juvenile justice system.

He’s also leaning into his experience as an engineer and “fixer” to solve problems on behalf of all residents, he said. His trademark, “Stand tall,” line, (the name of his PAC and latest podcast), was not part of the pitch I heard over the phone, but made the cut at the end of his announcement video.

Gilchrist made history as the first Black person to serve as the lieutenant governor of Michigan, as well as the first born in the 1980s. Michigan has never had a Black governor. Winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary would make him the first Black man in the party’s history to do so.

Former Wayne County Sheriff and the county’s first executive, Bill Lucas, was the only Black candidate to earn a gubernatorial nomination from voters of either state party. According to Gongwer’s Zach Gorchow, Lucas left the Democratic Party to run for governor as a Republican in July, 1985, saying he had become “embarrassed” of the Democratic Party, accusing Democrats of being controlled by special interests. He unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Governor Jim Blanchard in the 1986 election.

Gilchrist will have to beat fellow Democrats, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, to reach the general election in November, 2026. Waiting for him there would be Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who left the Democratic Party last year to run for governor as an independent. Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Twp. and Republican Anthony Hudson have also announced campaigns.

Whitmer is unable to run for reelection because of term-limits.

Readers and residents have openly wondered why Gilchrist had no interest in joining the race for Detroit mayor, which he said recently he wasn’t paying much attention to. He was also quick to shoot down rumors he was looking at running for U.S. Senate after Sen. Gary Peters announced he wouldn’t run for reelection.

Here’s what Gilchrist said about why he wants to be Michigan’s next governor in our 10 minute phone call.

Editor’s note: The following Q&A has been slightly edited for clarity.