Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is running for Michigan secretary of state as a Democrat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

He faces Republican Anthony Forlini, Libertarian Christine Sloan, Green Party candidate Eric Borregard and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Scott E. Aughney, according to the Michigan Department of State’s official candidate list.

The office oversees election administration, driver licensing and vehicle registration—services that affect Michigan residents.

Candidate information

Party: Democratic.

Residence and family: Gilchrist lives in Detroit with his wife, Ellen, and their three children, according to his official state biography.

Education: Gilchrist graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005, studying computer engineering and computer science, according to the university’s alumni profile.

Current office: Gilchrist has served as lieutenant governor since 2019. He is Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor, according to the governor’s office.

Experience and public service

Before entering elected office, Gilchrist worked as a software engineer at Microsoft. He later served as director of new media at the Center for Community Change and national campaign director at MoveOn.org, according to the University of Michigan.

He also worked in technology leadership for the City of Detroit. In 2018, he became the inaugural director of the university’s Center for Social Media Responsibility, which examines the effects of social media and develops tools to address misinformation.

As lieutenant governor, Gilchrist has led task forces addressing criminal justice and racial disparities in health care, according to his official biography.

He chaired the National Lieutenant Governors Association for its 2024–2025 term, according to the association.

On the issues

Voting rights: Gilchrist has pledged to defend voting access, including Michigan voters’ ability to vote by mail, and oppose President Donald Trump’s executive orders on voting, according to Votebeat’s reporting.

“If he wants to mess with Michiganders’ right to vote, he’s gonna have to come through me,” Gilchrist wrote in a social media post about Trump, Votebeat reported.

Voter privacy and data protection: Gilchrist says he would protect personal information held by the state, including voter registration and license plate data, from misuse by technology companies or the Trump administration, according to his campaign website.

Government services: Gilchrist proposes modernizing licensing and registration services. He also says he would hold auto repair businesses accountable for overcharging consumers.

In his January campaign announcement, reported by the Michigan Advance, he said: “I will modernize licensing and registration by providing smart, 21st-century service.”

Campaign finance: Gilchrist’s campaign website says he does not accept corporate PAC contributions. He also supports additional legislation addressing undisclosed political spending.

Endorsements

Gilchrist’s campaign website lists endorsements from the Michigan AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, Michigan Education Association and AFSCME Michigan, among other organizations.

The Upper Peninsula News candidate questionnaire was sent to Garlin Gilchrist’s campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 14, 2026. This profile draws on his public campaign website, public records, university materials and published reporting. Policy positions and campaign-listed endorsements are attributed to his campaign.