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Garlin Gilchrist II
Garlin Gilchrist II (Democratic Party) is the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. He assumed office on January 1, 2019. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Gilchrist (Democratic Party) is running for election for Governor of Michigan. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Biography
Gilchrist received bachelor's degrees in computer engineering and computer science from the University of Michigan. After graduating from college, he worked as a software engineer for Microsoft. He then moved to Washington D.C., where he served as the director of new media at the Center for Community Change and as the national campaign director of MoveOn.org. In 2014, he moved back to Detroit to serve as the city's director of innovation & emerging technology. He and his wife, Ellen, have twins.[1]
Political career
Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.
Gilchrist's political career includes the following offices:
- 2019-present: Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Elections
2026
See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jocelyn Benson (D) | |
 | Garlin Gilchrist II (D) | |
 | Marni Sawicki (D)  | |
| Chris Swanson (D) | ||
 | Mike Cox (R) | |
 | Joyce Gipson (R) | |
 | Anthony Hudson (R) | |
 | John James (R) | |
 | Tom Leonard (R) | |
 | Aric Nesbitt (R) | |
 | Evan Space (R) | |
| Karla Wagner (R) | ||
 | Mike Duggan (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Garlin Gilchrist II (D) | 54.5 | 2,430,505 |
 | Shane Hernandez (R) | 43.9 | 1,960,635 | |
 | Brian Ellison (L) | 0.9 | 38,800 | |
 | Mellissa Carone (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.4 | 16,246 | |
 | Destiny Clayton (G) | 0.2 | 10,766 | |
 | Doug Dern (Natural Law Party) | 0.1 | 4,973 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 47 | ||
| Total votes: 4,461,972 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Incumbent Garlin Gilchrist II advanced from the Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on August 21, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Garlin Gilchrist II (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Shane Hernandez advanced from the Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on August 27, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Shane Hernandez (R) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Green convention
Green convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Destiny Clayton advanced from the Green convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Destiny Clayton (G) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Brian Ellison advanced from the Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on July 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Brian Ellison (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Mellissa Carone advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on July 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mellissa Carone (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced on August 20, 2018, that she had selected Gilchrist as her running mate.[2]
General election
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gretchen Whitmer (D) | 53.3 | 2,266,193 |
 | Bill Schuette (R) | 43.7 | 1,859,534 | |
 | Bill Gelineau (L) | 1.3 | 56,606 | |
 | Todd Schleiger (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.7 | 29,219 | |
 | Jennifer Kurland (G) | 0.7 | 28,799 | |
 | Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party) | 0.2 | 10,202 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 32 | ||
| Total votes: 4,250,585 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Richard Sills (Independent)
- Ryan Henry Cox (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan
Gretchen Whitmer defeated Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gretchen Whitmer | 52.0 | 588,436 |
 | Abdul El-Sayed | 30.2 | 342,179 | |
 | Shri Thanedar | 17.7 | 200,645 | |
| Total votes: 1,131,260 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kentiel White (D)
- Bill Cobbs (D)
- Justin Giroux (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Michigan
Bill Schuette defeated Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, and Jim Hines in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Schuette | 50.7 | 501,959 |
 | Brian Calley | 25.2 | 249,185 | |
 | Patrick Colbeck | 13.1 | 129,646 | |
 | Jim Hines | 11.0 | 108,735 | |
| Total votes: 989,525 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Evan Space (R)
Green primary election
Green primary for Governor of Michigan
Jennifer Kurland advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jennifer Kurland |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dwain Reynolds (G)
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan
Bill Gelineau defeated John Tatar in the Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Gelineau | 57.8 | 4,034 |
| John Tatar | 42.2 | 2,941 | ||
| Total votes: 6,975 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
The city of Detroit, Michigan, held elections for mayor, city council, city clerk, and the Detroit Board of Police Commisisoners on November 7, 2017. A primary election was held on August 8, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 25, 2017.[3]
Incumbent Janice Winfrey defeated Garlin Gilchrist II in the general election for city clerk of Detroit.
| Detroit City Clerk, General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Janice Winfrey Incumbent |
50.57% | 49,874 |
| Garlin Gilchrist II | 49.06% | 48,388 |
| Write-in votes | 0.36% | 359 |
| Total Votes | 98,621 | |
| Source: Wayne County, Michigan, "2017 November 7th General & Special General Election Official Results," November 7, 2017 | ||
The following candidates ran in the primary election for city clerk of Detroit.[4]
| Detroit City Clerk, Primary Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Janice Winfrey Incumbent |
51.31% | 32,190 |
| Garlin Gilchrist II |
19.60% | 12,294 |
| Heaster Wheeler | 13.19% | 8,275 |
| Cynthia A. Johnson | 7.39% | 4,638 |
| D. Etta Wilcoxon | 4.88% | 3,059 |
| Ronald Creswell | 1.93% | 1,209 |
| Faustine Onwuneme | 1.44% | 903 |
| Write-in votes | 0.26% | 163 |
| Total Votes | 62,731 | |
| Source: Wayne County Clerk, "2017 Primary Official Results," accessed August 23, 2017 | ||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Garlin Gilchrist II did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Gilchrist's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[5]
Effortless voting
- Excerpt: "Long lines at the polls and bad information limit your voice. My plan to address Detroit’s persistent issues at the polls is clear; open new polling places, recast election day poll workers, encourage early absentee voting, and plan for replacing outdated voting machines."
Engage citizens
- Excerpt: "Detroit’s City Clerk is Detroit’s Chief Engagement Officer. That is most apparent on Election Day. You deserve to have your voice heard, to be engaged by your city government more than just once or twice a year. You deserve to know more about how your city government operates so you can figure out how you can be engaged."
Accessible city council
- Excerpt: "One of the tasks the Detroit City Charter gives the City Clerk is to serve as the official record keeper for the Detroit City Council. While the Charter gives no guidance about how those records are stored and how citizens can see those records, let’s make no mistake that if you are a Detroiter, they are your records."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Endorsements
2017
Gilchrist received the following endorsements in 2017:
Noteworthy events
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| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
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Gilchrist announced on January 9, 2022, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[8]
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Michigan |
Officeholder Lieutenant Governor of Michigan |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Garlin Gilchrist campaign website, "About," accessed October 17, 2017
- ↑ Michigan Public Radio, "Gretchen Whitmer names Detroit native, Garlin Gilchrist II as running mate," August 20, 2018
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces re-election bid," February 4, 2017
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "It's official: 8 Detroit mayoral candidates will be on primary ballot," May 11, 2017
- ↑ Garlin Gilchrist campaign website, "Issues," accessed October 17, 2017
- ↑ Run for Something, "Candidates," accessed August 16, 2017
- ↑ The Detroit News, "For Detroit clerk: Gilchrist; Sossi in District 1," July 27, 2017
- ↑ WDIO, "Michigan lieutenant governor tests positive for COVID-19," January 10, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Calley (R) |
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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