Garlin Gilchrist for Michigan Secretary of State
Our Revolution is proud to endorse Garlin Gilchrist for Michigan Secretary of State.
Michigan is ground zero in the fight for free and fair elections. At a moment when voting rights, personal data, and democracy itself are under attack, Michigan needs a Secretary of State who isn’t afraid to stand up to powerful interests.
Garlin Gilchrist is ready for that fight.
A software engineer, public servant, husband, and dad, Garlin has built his career around a simple idea: government should actually work for regular people.
Now, he’s running for Secretary of State to protect the right to vote, defend Michiganders’ personal information, take on dark money, and bring government services into the 21st century.
A Tech Expert Ready to Take On Big Tech
Garlin brings something especially important to the Secretary of State’s office: he actually understands technology.
Before entering statewide office, Garlin worked as a software engineer at Microsoft. He later served as Detroit’s first Director of Innovation, where he created the Improve Detroit smartphone app to give residents a stronger voice in addressing everyday problems in their neighborhoods.
Today, Garlin is the country’s only statewide elected software engineer.
That experience matters when enormous technology companies hold unprecedented amounts of personal information.
As Secretary of State, Garlin will stand up to Big Tech companies and the Trump administration when they seek to abuse Michiganders’ voter-registration information or license-plate data.
He also wants to modernize licensing and registration so interacting with state government is faster, smarter, and more convenient.
Standing Tall for Democracy
Garlin understands what’s at stake when powerful interests are allowed to dominate our democracy.
He’s refusing corporate PAC money in his campaign and calling for greater transparency around dark money in Michigan politics.
As Secretary of State, he’ll fight for more legislative action to shine a light on that secret money while defending the sacred right of every Michigander to vote.
For Garlin, protecting democracy isn’t separate from improving people’s lives. It’s what gives working people the power to demand action on the issues affecting their families — from childcare and housing to healthcare.
A Record of Delivering for Michigan
Garlin isn’t new to taking on big challenges.
Working alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer, he has helped lead efforts to deliver free pre-K, grow small businesses, protect abortion access, bring high-quality jobs to Michigan, reform the justice system, and connect tens of thousands of Michiganders with reliable and affordable high-speed internet.
And his commitment to making government more responsive goes back even further.
Growing up in Metro Detroit, Garlin saw what happens when communities feel like their voices aren’t being heard. That’s why, as Detroit’s Director of Innovation, he used technology to give residents a direct way to flag problems like potholes, damaged street signs, and water issues — and demand action from their government.
It’s the same philosophy he’ll bring to the Secretary of State’s office: listen to people, protect their voice, and make government work.
This November, let’s elect a Secretary of State who will stand tall for democracy, protect our right to vote, and make government work for all of us.
When we organize, we win.
Our Revolution