Garlin Gilchrist officially joins Michigan governor race
Garlin Gilchrist declares for Michigan Governor
Current Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist has eyes on the nexts step as he declares his plans to run for governor in 2026.
LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan's current lieutenant governor, is now seeking to move up to the role of governor.
After it was revealed last week that the Detroit native was eyeing a run to replace outgoing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, he made the news official Tuesday morning.
"We've made a lot of progress these past six years, but there is so much more to do," he said in the video. "As governor, I'll protect our rights and stand up for the families, workers, and businesses that keep our economy strong."
If elected, Gilchrist, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2019, would be the state's first Black governor. He is currently the highest-ranking Black elected official in Michigan history.
Big picture view:
The run for governor follows a historically long tradition of lieutenant governors running for the big seat and getting endorsed by the sitting governor. However, historically, those who have done this haven't won.
William Milliken, John Engler, Jennifer Granholm, and Rick Snyder's lieutenant governors all ran for the seat – and all lost.
To the point of governor endorsements, Whitmer is not expected to endorse anyone in the race.
Dig deeper:
Gilchrist, a Democrat, joins an already crowded list of candidates hoping to end up on the ballot in November 2026.
Others on the Democratic side include Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a Democrat, is also running, but as an independent candidate.
On the GOP side, Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt and Anthony Hudson, who ran for Congress last year, are seeking office.
The Source: A video and press release from Garlin Gilchrist, along with previous FOX 2 stories, were used to report this story.