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| Garlin Gilchrist | |
|---|---|
| Name | Garlin Gilchrist |
| Office | 64th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan |
| Governor | Gretchen Whitmer |
| Term start | January 1, 2019 |
| Predecessor | Brian Calley |
| Birth date | 1982 |
| Birth place | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan (BS), University of Michigan School of Information (MS) |
| Occupation | Politician, engineer, activist, entrepreneur |
Garlin Gilchrist is an American politician, engineer, activist, and entrepreneur who has served as the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan since 2019. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he previously worked in technology, grassroots organizing, and civic innovation, and he ran as the running mate of Gretchen Whitmer in the 2018 and 2022 Michigan gubernatorial elections. Gilchrist's career spans work with technology firms, nonprofit organizations, and electoral campaigns, intersecting with figures and institutions across the technology, civic, and political spheres.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Gilchrist grew up in an urban neighborhood shaped by the legacy of Detroit's automobile industry, the history of Great Migration, and local institutions such as Henry Ford Hospital and Wayne State University. He attended University of Michigan where he earned a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering and later completed a Master of Science at the University of Michigan School of Information. During his student years he was involved with organizations and initiatives connected to National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and local civic groups in Wayne County. His education connected him to research communities including Association for Computing Machinery, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and collaborations that intersected with projects at Google, Microsoft, and university research labs.
Gilchrist's early career included positions at technology and startup environments, where he worked on human-computer interaction and civic technology intersecting with organizations such as IBM, Mozilla Foundation, and Occupy Movement-era digital activism networks. He contributed to projects at civic-technology nonprofits comparable to Code for America and engaged with policy and product teams that interfaced with White House-level initiatives and municipal startups in San Francisco, California and Chicago, Illinois. His work connected him to researchers affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University as part of broader conversations about data privacy, algorithmic bias, and urban informatics. Gilchrist co-founded a Detroit-based technology company and an online platform focused on civic engagement, aligning with networks such as Detroit Future City, Techstars, and local accelerators supported by Kresge Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Gilchrist transitioned from technology and grassroots organizing into electoral politics and public service. He served as a national organizer and technology strategist for campaigns and coalitions linked to Democratic National Committee, progressive groups associated with MoveOn.org and Indivisible (organization), and local Michigan campaigns in Oakland County, Michigan and Macomb County, Michigan. He collaborated with municipal leaders in Detroit Board of Education initiatives and partnered with civic leaders involved with United Way and NAACP chapters. Gilchrist's profile rose through partnerships with statewide figures like Jennifer Granholm, Dana Nessel, and Kwame Kilpatrick-era reform advocates, leading to his selection as a lieutenant gubernatorial candidate by Gretchen Whitmer in 2018.
As Lieutenant Governor, Gilchrist has served alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer and participated in state efforts addressing crises involving public health agencies such as Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and infrastructure bodies like Michigan Department of Transportation. His office coordinated with federal agencies including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and with regional authorities such as Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. He engaged with legislative leaders from Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives on budgetary matters, worked with law enforcement stakeholders including Michigan State Police and municipal police chiefs, and interfaced with labor groups such as United Auto Workers during negotiations affecting the Big Three.
Gilchrist has championed initiatives in technology policy, voting access, criminal justice reform, and economic development. He supported efforts to modernize election administration with partnerships referencing Michigan Secretary of State operations, engaged with voting rights advocates like Brennan Center for Justice, and worked on cybersecurity collaborations involving Department of Homeland Security frameworks. On criminal justice and policing, he participated in dialogues with American Civil Liberties Union, faith leaders from Interfaith Council for Peace, and municipal prosecutors following national debates sparked by cases involving Minneapolis, Minnesota and Ferguson, Missouri. Economic development initiatives engaged stakeholders including Automotive News-listed companies, Business Leaders for Michigan, venture groups such as Michigan Venture Capital Association, and philanthropic partners like Ford Foundation and William Davidson Foundation. In public health responses, he coordinated messaging tied to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidance and engaged with hospital networks including Beaumont Health and Henry Ford Health System.
Gilchrist is married and his family life has been noted in profiles by outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Detroit Free Press, and MLive. He has received recognition from civic organizations and technology groups connected to Black Enterprise, NAACP, and local awards from City of Detroit and philanthropic entities including Kellogg Foundation and Kresge Foundation. His public engagements have brought him into panels with figures from Brookings Institution, Aspen Institute, Urban Institute, and academic forums at University of Michigan and Harvard Kennedy School. He has been profiled alongside political leaders such as Gretchen Whitmer, Debbie Stabenow, Elijah Cummings, and civic technologists associated with Civic Hall.
Category:Lieutenant Governors of Michigan Category:People from Detroit, Michigan Category:University of Michigan alumni