SWITCHING GEARS

After weeks of whispers, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II made it official in mid-January – he gave up his failing attempt at a gubernatorial campaign to try his hand at a run for the Democratic nod for secretary of state. Gilchrist’s departure from the governor’s race gives Democratic front-runner (and prolific marathon racer) and current Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson an apparent straight shot to the August primary anointment. Gilchrist’s as secretary of state candidate, which is chosen by Democratic party delegates at their party’s convention in April, is not nearly as assured – although from reports he is Dem leaders favored candidate. He will face off against Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, former state Senator Adam Hollier (who dropped out of the MI-13 congressional race and was booted from that campaign in 2024 due to fraudulent petition signatures) and former Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. Deputy secretary of state Aghogho Edevbie had announced his run for the party nomination but withdrew after Gilchrist’s decision. “At heart, I’m a public servant, an entrepreneur, a dad, a husband, and an engineer who spent a lot of my life making government actually work for people,” Gilchrist said in a video announcement. As secretary of state, I will shine a light on dark money and put the public first. I will modernize licensing and registration by providing smart, 21st-century service. I’ll protect your privacy and never allow your identity, voter registration information, or license plate data to be mined by big tech companies or surveilled by the Trump administration. Byrum accused him of just looking for “his next paycheck,” and that voters need someone who knows elections “backwards and forwards.” Byrum has her own baggage, which will likely come up in a convention tussle, including a personal issue with her juvenile son who was thrown out of school over a sexual assault accusation. Shkreli said her campaign is building fundraising momentum and “national buzz.” She has raised over $300,000 since announcing in November – which is admirable, but just a dent to Gilchrist’s $1 million that he is bringing over from his governor’s race. And after eight year’s as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s number two, his statewide and tech profile, while not as high voltage as Benson’s, is brighter than any of the other SOS candidates. Stay tuned.

Garlin Gilchrist II