Garlin Gilchrist

Garlin Gilchrist II
Born	Garlin Gilchrist II 9/25/1982
Birthplace	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, engineer
Title	Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Known for	64th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Education	University of Michigan (BS)
Spouse(s)	Ellen Gilchrist
Children	3
Awards	Change Champion Award (2019)

Garlin Gilchrist II (born September 25, 1982) is an American politician and software engineer serving as the 64th lieutenant governor of Michigan since January 1, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Gilchrist serves alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer, with whom he was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Gilchrist built a career that spanned technology, civic engagement, and public service before entering electoral politics. He previously worked as a software engineer at Microsoft, served as the director of innovation and emerging technology for the City of Detroit, and became the inaugural director of the University of Michigan Center for Social Media Responsibility. His path from technologist to the state's second-highest office has made him one of the most prominent Black elected officials in Michigan's history. In January 2026, after initially pursuing the Democratic nomination for governor of Michigan, Gilchrist announced he was suspending that campaign and instead launching a bid for Michigan secretary of state. During his tenure as lieutenant governor, he has taken on significant roles including chairing the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities and serving as the 65th chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Early Life

Garlin Gilchrist II was born on September 25, 1982, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in the city, which would become central to his identity and political career. Gilchrist's upbringing in Detroit exposed him to both the challenges facing the city—including population decline, economic hardship, and racial inequality—and the resilience of its communities. His family roots in the city shaped his later commitment to public service and urban revitalization.

As a young person growing up in Detroit, Gilchrist developed interests in technology and community engagement that would later define his professional trajectory. He attended local schools and demonstrated academic aptitude, particularly in science and technology fields, which led him to pursue engineering studies at the collegiate level.

Gilchrist has spoken publicly about how his Detroit upbringing influenced his worldview and his approach to problem-solving, combining technological innovation with a focus on equity and community impact. His personal narrative as a Detroiter who pursued education and a technology career before returning to serve the city became a central element of his public identity when he entered politics.

Education

Gilchrist attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering. His engineering education provided the technical foundation for his subsequent career in the technology industry and later informed his approach to government innovation and policy.

Gilchrist maintained a relationship with the University of Michigan after graduation, eventually returning to serve in an academic role as the inaugural director of the university's Center for Social Media Responsibility. His connection to the university would later be cited as evidence of his commitment to bridging the gap between technology and public interest.

Career

Technology Career

After completing his degree at the University of Michigan, Gilchrist entered the technology industry. He worked as a software engineer at Microsoft, where he gained experience in software development and the technology sector. His time at one of the world's largest technology companies gave him professional credibility in the tech space and influenced his later efforts to apply technological solutions to governmental and civic challenges.

Gilchrist also worked in progressive political organizing, using digital tools and strategies to advance causes related to social justice and community empowerment. This combination of technology expertise and political engagement positioned him at the intersection of two fields that would define his career.

City of Detroit

Gilchrist returned to his hometown of Detroit to serve in city government. He was appointed as the director of innovation and emerging technology for the City of Detroit, a position in which he oversaw efforts to modernize city services through technology.

One of his notable initiatives in this role was the Improve Detroit application, a digital platform designed to allow residents to report issues such as potholes, illegal dumping, and broken streetlights directly to the city government for resolution. The app was part of a broader effort to make city government more responsive and accessible to residents. Gilchrist's work in Detroit's city government provided him with direct experience in public administration and demonstrated his approach to using technology as a tool for improving quality of life in urban communities.

His tenure in Detroit city government became a defining element of his political biography, frequently cited in media coverage as evidence of his commitment to public service and his ability to deliver tangible results for constituents.

University of Michigan Center for Social Media Responsibility

In 2018, Gilchrist was named the inaugural director of the University of Michigan Center for Social Media Responsibility. The center was established to study and address the societal impacts of social media platforms, including issues such as misinformation, data privacy, and the role of social media in democratic processes. In this role, Gilchrist was tasked with leading research and public engagement efforts related to the responsible use of social media technologies.

His appointment to this position reflected the growing national concern about the influence of social media on public discourse and democratic institutions. The role also demonstrated his ability to bridge the worlds of technology, academia, and public policy. His time at the center was relatively brief, however, as he was soon selected as a candidate for lieutenant governor.

2017 Detroit City Clerk Race

Before running for lieutenant governor, Gilchrist sought elected office in Detroit. He ran for Detroit city clerk in the 2017 election. The race served as his first foray into electoral politics and, while he did not win the position, the campaign raised his public profile within Detroit political circles and the broader Michigan Democratic Party. The experience of campaigning and engaging directly with voters informed his subsequent political endeavors.

Selection as Running Mate and 2018 Election

On August 19, 2018, Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan, announced Gilchrist as her running mate for lieutenant governor. The selection of Gilchrist—a Black Detroiter with a background in technology and community engagement—was seen as a strategic choice to balance the ticket geographically and demographically, as Whitmer represented a more suburban and outstate Michigan constituency.

Gilchrist's selection drew attention to his unusual profile for a political candidate. His background in software engineering at Microsoft, his work in Detroit city government on technology innovation, and his role at the University of Michigan Center for Social Media Responsibility set him apart from more traditional political figures.

The Whitmer-Gilchrist ticket faced Republican nominees Bill Schuette and Lisa Lyons in the November 2018 general election. The race was closely watched as one of several competitive gubernatorial contests nationally during the 2018 midterm elections.

The Whitmer-Gilchrist ticket won the election, making Gilchrist the lieutenant governor-elect of Michigan. Gilchrist was inaugurated as the 64th lieutenant governor of Michigan on January 1, 2019. He succeeded Brian Calley, the Republican who had served as lieutenant governor under Governor Rick Snyder.

Lieutenant Governor of Michigan

Gilchrist took office as lieutenant governor on January 1, 2019, serving under Governor Gretchen Whitmer. As lieutenant governor, Gilchrist serves as the president of the Michigan Senate and is first in the line of succession to the governorship. He has been assigned several policy portfolios and leadership responsibilities during his tenure.

COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Disparities

One of Gilchrist's most prominent assignments as lieutenant governor came during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Governor Whitmer announced the creation of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, appointing Gilchrist as its chair. The task force was created in response to data showing that Black residents of Michigan were disproportionately affected by the pandemic in terms of infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths. Gilchrist led the task force's efforts to examine and address the systemic factors contributing to these disparities, including access to healthcare, economic conditions, and environmental factors.

2020 Democratic National Convention

Gilchrist played a role in the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was held in a largely virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was named as one of the convention officers. His involvement in the national convention raised his profile within the Democratic Party beyond Michigan.

2022 Re-election

Gilchrist ran for re-election alongside Governor Whitmer in 2022. The Whitmer-Gilchrist ticket won re-election in the November 2022 general election, securing a second term. The victory came during a midterm election cycle that saw Democrats perform better than expected nationally, and in Michigan, the party gained control of both chambers of the state legislature for the first time in decades.

National Lieutenant Governors Association

Gilchrist served as the 65th chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), holding the position from 2024 to 2025. In this role, he succeeded Adam Gregg of Iowa and was succeeded by Pamela Evette of South Carolina. The position provided Gilchrist with a national platform and leadership role among his peers in state government.

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign and Switch to Secretary of State Race

With Governor Whitmer term-limited and unable to seek re-election in 2026, Gilchrist initially pursued the Democratic nomination for governor of Michigan. However, his gubernatorial campaign faced challenges, including fundraising difficulties.

On January 12, 2026, Gilchrist announced that he was suspending his campaign for governor and would instead run for Michigan secretary of state. The announcement was made via a video posted to the social media platform X. His departure from the governor's race was analyzed by political observers as positioning Jocelyn Benson, the incumbent secretary of state who was running for governor, more favorably for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Gilchrist's secretary of state campaign received an early endorsement from the Michigan AFL-CIO on February 3, 2026.

Community Engagement

Throughout his time as lieutenant governor, Gilchrist has engaged in community outreach activities across Michigan. In March 2026, he visited Jackson Public Schools, reading to students at Cascades Elementary School as part of National Reading Month.

Personal Life

Gilchrist is married to Ellen Gilchrist. The couple has three children. The family resides in Michigan. Gilchrist has maintained strong ties to Detroit throughout his career, frequently citing his roots in the city as foundational to his public service work.

Recognition

In 2019, Gilchrist received the Change Champion Award from Community Change, a national organization focused on building power in low-income communities and communities of color.

Gilchrist's profile was featured by the University of Michigan Alumni Association, highlighting his trajectory from engineering student to the state's second-highest elected office. He was also profiled by the University of Michigan College of Engineering in connection with his role at the Center for Social Media Responsibility.

His role as chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association from 2024 to 2025 represented recognition from his peers among the nation's lieutenant governors. His endorsement by the Michigan AFL-CIO for his 2026 secretary of state campaign reflected support from the state's organized labor movement.

Media coverage of Gilchrist's career has frequently highlighted his background as a technologist in public office. Crain's Detroit Business profiled him as a "true Detroit comeback story," emphasizing his return to the city after working in the technology industry to pursue public service.