Polling Average
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
12.7%
53.7%
6.4%
Democrat
Garlin Gilchrist
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
$62.0K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleLieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age43 years old (Sep 25, 1982)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationMichigan
BackgroundLieutenant Governor of Michigan
EducationUniversity of Michigan (Computer Science and Engineering; 2000–2005)
Notable personal detailsGarlin Gilchrist II is an American politician and software engineer who has served as the 64th lieutenant governor of Michigan since 2019. He has led and participated in statewide initiatives on criminal and juvenile justice reform and chaired Michigan’s COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force. He is a University of Michigan alumnus and has worked in technology and public-sector innovation.
SourcesShowHide
michigan.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orglinkedin.comgarlingilchrist.comcommons.wikimedia.orglegistorm.comeverything.explained.todaycbsnews.commichiganbusiness.orglegislature.mi.govde.wikipedia.orgtransparencyusa.orgqa.linkedin.comtwitter.comx.comsv.linkedin.comwgvunews.orgmichiganadvance.comwnem.comapnews.commichiganpublic.orgwemu.orgportal.ct.govdigital.bentley.umich.edumichiganchronicle.commiaflcio.orgvotebeat.orgreproductivefreedomforall.orguaw.orgfox2detroit.cominstagram.comdetroitnews.combridgemi.comuppermichiganssource.comwzzm13.comyahoo.comballotpedia.orgfacebook.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgvotesmart.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgstatic.votesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orges.wikipedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orghistory.house.govgovinfo.govnga.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for low- and middle-income households (expanded Earned Income Tax Credit) and proposed tax credits for caregivers while backing state budget investments in education, housing, infrastructure and economic development without raising broad taxes. Emphasizes using state budget and targeted credits to put money back into working families’ pockets and to invest in public programs that promote economic opportunity.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable health care, protecting and strengthening Medicaid and Medicare, and improving mental-health services and health equity; favors government action and investments to lower costs and increase access rather than privatization or repeal. Positions emphasize building on existing programs and lessons from the COVID-19 response to reduce disparities.
Show moreShow less
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive healthcare; describes reproductive decisions as between patients and medical providers and opposes efforts to restrict that access. Commits to using executive and coalition tools to defend reproductive freedom in Michigan and to codify/affirm those protections under state law.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive state-level climate action and large clean-energy investments, backing Michigan’s MI Healthy Climate Plan goals including carbon neutrality by 2050 and major programs to expand solar, hydrogen, and clean-energy manufacturing and financing. Has announced and promoted grant programs and federal-state partnerships to grow clean energy jobs, deploy solar and storage, and build hydrogen manufacturing capacity in Michigan.
Public Safety & Guns
Garlin Gilchrist supports expanded gun violence prevention measures including universal background checks, safe-storage requirements, and extreme risk (red flag) orders, and has promoted efforts to remove illegal firearms from communities. He has also supported holding the firearms industry accountable and funding public-safety initiatives to reduce gun violence.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Garlin Gilchrist recently won the Michigan Democratic Party’s endorsement for secretary of state after a multi-round vote, marking the biggest recent development around him. The endorsement came after he had previously considered running for governor, and the convention also endorsed Eli Savit for attorney general. The reports do not say that Gilchrist is the party’s final nominee or that he has won the office, only that he secured the party endorsement.
michigan.gov+49
Articles
LSLansing State Journal3 months ago
Dems endorse Gilchrist for secretary of state, Savit for AG
Positive
MLM Live Michigan 3 months ago
Gilchrist secures Michigan Democratic Party’s endorsement for secretary of state
Positive
MLM Live Michigan 3 months ago
3 Michigan Democrats seek party nomination for secretary of state job
Neutral
SASanta Ana Orange County Register3 months ago
Republicans once saw Michigan as ripe for takeover, but mood shifting
Neutral
Polls
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Garlin Gilchrist for Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
Michigan AFL-CIO
Elected official
Michigan AFL-CIO endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for secretary of state.
Michigan Democratic Party
Elected official
Michigan Democratic Party endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for secretary of state.
Michigan Democratic Party members at the State Endorsement Convention
Elected official
Michigan Democratic Party delegates endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for secretary of state.
Reproductive Freedom for All
Elected official
Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for secretary of state.
United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
Elected official
UAW endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for Michigan secretary of state.
Rashida Tlaib
Elected official
Rashida Tlaib endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for Michigan governor.
Michigan state legislators
Elected official
Multiple Michigan state legislators endorsed Garlin Gilchrist for governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising