Garlin Gilchrist II, a Democrat from Detroit and Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor, announced on Tuesday that he is entering the 2026 gubernatorial race.
A software engineer by profession, Gilchrist rose from relative political obscurity in 2018 when he ran alongside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Over the past six years, his political profile has grown through his close work with one of the nation’s most prominent Democrats.
In an interview ahead of his announcement, Gilchrist shared, “When you have a problem, an engineer can fix that problem.” He emphasized the relationships he has built across all 83 counties in the state. “That’s a story I’m going to tell,” he said.
As governor, Gilchrist plans to focus on expanding affordable housing and improving access to healthcare, particularly in the realm of mental health services.
Gilchrist acknowledged that voters supported President Donald Trump’s return to the White House partly due to frustration with a “status quo that wasn’t serving them.” Trump won Michigan by a narrow 1.5-point margin last fall.
He stated, “That anger comes from not seeing results, from things not working.” Gilchrist shared his experience of moving to Washington state to work for Microsoft after graduating from the University of Michigan. However, as governor, he promised to ensure that Michigan residents have the opportunity to “be their best self here.”
“I want us to make good choices today so that the people of Michigan know they can take their next step here,” Gilchrist stated. “They should be able to build their careers, families, and futures in Michigan.”
However, Gilchrist will need to balance this vision with his position as a key figure in the Democratic Party, which controlled the state government entirely from 2022 to 2024. In his interview, Gilchrist maintained his support for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, calling her an ally and emphasizing that they have “laid a really good foundation for the future of the state of Michigan.”
Gilchrist is regarded as a rising star in the Democratic Party. Hailing from Detroit, the state’s largest Democratic stronghold, which is nearly 80% Black, he has strong appeal within the community. If elected, he would become Michigan’s first Black governor. However, before teaming up with Governor Gretchen Whitmer on the Democratic ticket, Gilchrist ran for Detroit City Clerk in 2017 but narrowly lost to incumbent Janice Winfrey.
Lieutenant governors in Michigan have not historically had much success in transitioning to the governor’s office, with the most recent example being Republican Brian Calley, who was defeated in the 2018 GOP primary.
Gilchrist is competing against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the 2026 Democratic primary. Whitmer has stated that she will not endorse any candidate.
The primary winner will likely face a challenging general election. In addition to a Republican opponent — with Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt currently seen as the leading candidate — they may also face Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat who is now running as an independent for governor.