Garlin Gilchrist II

Garlin Gilchrist II is an American politician and technology professional serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan since 2019 under Governor Gretchen Whitmer. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the first African American to hold the office of lieutenant governor in the state's history. Prior to his political career, Gilchrist worked in software engineering and community organizing, with roles at Microsoft and as the national campaign director for the Center for Community Change.

Early life and education

Garlin Gilchrist II was born on July 25, 1982, in Detroit, Michigan, to Garlin and Debra Gilchrist. He was raised in the city's North End neighborhood and attended Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Martin Luther King High School. Gilchrist then pursued higher education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering. During his time at the university, he was actively involved in student government and various advocacy organizations focused on social justice.

Career

Before entering politics, Gilchrist built a career at the intersection of technology and civic engagement. He worked as a software engineer at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, contributing to products like SharePoint and OneDrive. He later moved into the non-profit sector, serving as the national campaign director for the Center for Community Change in Washington, D.C., where he organized around issues like immigration reform and economic justice. Gilchrist returned to Detroit in 2014, where he was appointed the city's first-ever Director of Innovation and Emerging Technology by Mayor Mike Duggan, focusing on leveraging data and technology to improve municipal services.

Political career

Gilchrist's political career began in earnest when he was selected by gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer as her running mate in the 2018 election. The Whitmer–Gilchrist ticket was successful, and he was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on January 1, 2019. In this role, he chairs the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, established to address the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. He also leads the MI Healthy Climate Plan initiative and serves on the Michigan State Police Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Gilchrist was re-elected alongside Whitmer in the 2022 election.

Personal life

Gilchrist is married to Ellen Gilchrist, a former Teach For America corps member; the couple wed in 2015 and reside in Detroit with their three children. He is an active member of the Second Baptist Church of Detroit, one of the oldest African American congregations in the Midwest. Gilchrist has spoken publicly about his family's deep roots in the city and his commitment to issues such as educational equity, environmental justice, and voting rights.

Electoral history

In the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial election, the Democratic ticket of Gretchen Whitmer and Garlin Gilchrist II defeated the Republican candidates, Bill Schuette and Lisa Posthumus Lyons, winning with 53.3% of the vote. They were re-elected in the 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election, defeating the Republican ticket of Tudor Dixon and Shane Hernandez with 54.5% of the vote. These victories maintained Democratic control of the governor's office and marked the first time since 1990 that a Democratic gubernatorial ticket won re-election in Michigan.

Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Lieutenant Governors of Michigan Category:Michigan Democrats Category:University of Michigan alumni Category:People from Detroit Category:African-American state legislators in Michigan