Polling Average
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
12.7%
53.7%
6.4%
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
$45.1K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleLieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderMale
LocationMichigan
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BackgroundPolitician
Notable personal detailsGarlin Gilchrist II is an American politician and engineer who has served as Michigan’s 64th lieutenant governor since 2019, alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Before taking statewide office, he worked as a software engineer, including at Microsoft, and has focused in office on modernization and problem-solving initiatives in state government. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Ellen, and their three children.
SourcesShowHide
michigan.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgapnews.comlinkedin.comtwitter.comsenate.michigan.govaxios.commichiganbusiness.orgcbsnews.commichiganadvance.comes.wikipedia.orgmetrotimes.comlegislature.mi.govgarlingilchrist.comwgvunews.orgwnem.commichiganpublic.orgwemu.orgportal.ct.govdigital.bentley.umich.edumichiganchronicle.commiaflcio.orgbostonglobe.comballotready.orgabcnews.go.comlatimes.comwashingtonpost.comstatic.votesmart.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgnga.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgru.wikipedia.orggovinfo.gov
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.
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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 updatedJun 1, 2026
Garlin Gilchrist has been in the news because Michigan Democrats endorsed him for secretary of state at their state convention, after he won the party endorsement in a multi-round vote. The convention also highlighted broader intraparty tensions, and Democrats separately endorsed Eli Savit for attorney general. Earlier reports said Gilchrist had considered a run for governor before entering the secretary of state race.
michigan.gov+34
Articles
LSLansing State Journal1 month ago
Dems endorse Gilchrist for secretary of state, Savit for AG
Positive
MLM Live Michigan 1 month ago
Gilchrist secures Michigan Democratic Party’s endorsement for secretary of state
Positive
MLM Live Michigan 1 month ago
3 Michigan Democrats seek party nomination for secretary of state job
Neutral
SASanta Ana Orange County Register25 days ago
Republicans once saw Michigan as ripe for takeover, but mood shifting
Neutral
Polls
Michigan Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising