Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist has formed a committee to run for governor, according to a filing with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office headed by Jocelyn Benson, who he would face in a high-stakes Democratic primary.
The paperwork, which allows Gilchrist to begin raising money for a 2026 campaign, appears to confirm what he began teasing earlier this week: That he’ll make a “big announcement” on March 11 in Detroit.
Gilchrist had been long expected to seek another office when his second term alongside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ends at the end of 2026. But whether he would pursue a gubernatorial campaign, a run for Michigan’s open US Senate or join the Detroit mayor’s race hadn’t been clear.
The Detroit Democrat has gained stature since 2018, when he was a relatively unknown political figure before Whitmer tapped him to be her running mate. He had previously run for Detroit city clerk in 2017 but lost out to longtime incumbent Janice Winfrey by less than 1,500 votes.
A Detroit native and software engineer by training, Gilchrist left the state after graduating from the University of Michigan to work for Microsoft. He later spearheaded outreach for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and worked for liberal groups before returning to Detroit in 2014 to work in city government.
Gilchrist has described himself as a technocrat and championed statewide internet access, particularly in rural areas, as a means of economic opportunity. He’s also led efforts to reform criminal justice laws and address racial disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He would join a Democratic gubernatorial primary that already includes Benson, also of Detroit, and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan left the Democratic Party to run as an independent. The Republican race features Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township.
Click here for ongoing updates from Bridge Michigan on the 2026 race.
