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Lt. Garlin Gilchrist II
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, who will finish his second term next year as the number two official in Lansing, has filed paperwork to run for governor and will announce his candidacy next week, Crain's Detroit Business reports.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declined to endorse Gilchrist or any other candidate in the primary.
Gilchrist, 42, is the third Democrat to join the race. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson have announced their candidacies. Republican Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt and independent Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan are also running.
While Gilchrist has taken the lead on certain state issues, such as health policy, he has maintained a relatively low profile. He is considered very sharp and personable, but it is unclear how his reserved demeanor will impact his campaign.
He will also be competing for campaign funding against other high-profile Democrats and Mayor Duggan, a Democrat who has chosen to run as an independent.
