28-05-2025
Gilchrist focuses on vision for Michigan amid challenges from Trump administration
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist at the Mackinac Policy Conference | Susan J. Demas
MACKINAC ISLAND – With Independent candidate for governor and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan holding a 54% favorability rating among metro Detroit voters, and fellow Detroit resident Jocelyn Benson also seeking the Democratic nomination, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said that his campaign would build off his record of work in all 83 Michigan counties.
'I think people from Detroit, just like people from all across Michigan, want to have a governor who is able to speak to the moment going forward. We are in an era where the economy is quickly evolving, where the support from the federal government, from [President Donald Trump's] administration, is dwindling and is causing danger for people, and I think we're going to need the kind of leadership that can speak to that forcefully. And I've demonstrated my ability to do that,' Gilchrist told the Michigan Advance at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Tuesday.
Gilchrist pitched his vision of health, wealth and opportunity for the state, noting the shared anxiety of parents that their child will leave and never come home, while pointing to his own experience of growing up in Detroit, but then leaving the state for nine years to pursue a career in software engineering.
With Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiling the state's Growing Michigan Together Council at the 2023 conference, which later issued a report outlining strategies to help address Michigan's dwindling population and improve its economic competitiveness, Gilchrist said Michigan needs to be an answer for whatever any person's next step may be.
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He highlighted a need for affordable childcare, highlighting his work on the Caring for MI Future Program, which helped open and expand more than 3,600 child care programs in the state. For people with school age children, Gilchrist pointed to efforts to improve equity in the state's education budget, offering $10,000 in funding per student.
He also noted the importance of exposure to different career paths through things like career and technical education and internships, noting how his own exposure to engineering eventually led to his career.
For those looking to pursue education after high school, Gilchrist pointed to efforts to provide Michigan residents with a free or reduced-cost education at a local community college, four-year university or trade school. He also called for continued support for Michigan's higher education institutions.
For those starting their career, Gilchrist highlighted his work to support entrepreneurship through the Michigan Innovation Fund.
'I think it's about making sure that whatever your next step is, you can say yes to it in the state of Michigan,' Gilchrist said.
Moving from 2026 into 2030, Michigan is set to hit its first interim goal of 50% clean energy, building up to a 100% clean energy standard by 2040. However, with the federal government threatening to harm Michigan's clean energy industry by ending most tax credits, Gilchrist said he would continue to support businesses and entrepreneurs in the clean energy sector, where he can, through policy, programs and investments.
However, the federal government does have a role to play, he noted.
'I am deeply concerned that members of the Michigan delegation, [U.S. Rep.] John James (R-Shelby Twp.), the Republicans, they voted for something to come out of the House that would be damaging to our clean energy future,' Gilchrist said.
'Michigan is going to need a governor going to continue to fight for that and prioritize it…That's what I'll do,' he said.
The following are more excerpts from the interview:
Michigan Advance: The governor has kind of sought to find common ground with President Trump. If you were to take the governorship, would you consider a different approach, or would you continue to try and find that middle ground?
Gilchrist: I'm a solution builder and a problem solver, and the governor's job is to work with every and any person who can make something happen for Michigan. And so she's done that and has put points on the board as a result of it.
So as governor, I will work with any and everyone to make sure that Michigan can make progress. And I recognize that when someone attacks Michigan, attacks Michigan communities, attacks Michigan universities, that it is my responsibility as the person who has the interest of the state of Michigan as my interest, have to make sure we stand up for that too, and I'll do that as governor.
Michigan Advance: Is there a disconnect in the rhetoric that we saw in 2024 about Trump is this huge threat to democracy, to all of these different things, and then the rhetoric that we're seeing this year about finding common ground with him?
Gilchrist: There is no disconnect from the reality that Trump has been an absolute, not just a threat, but has frankly, trampled on, is ignoring court orders, is accepting $400 [million] airplanes. I mean, like this guy thinks the Constitution is a joke. He treats it like toilet paper. I think we were, you know, right to call that out and I think that still remains true, and I'll continue to do that.
At the same time. We also need to make progress in Michigan. I think you can protect our values, promote our values and make progress and that's the kind of thing that I'll do. Look, I'm an engineer. We find a way to make progress and make things work. And so that's the kind of posture I'll have.
Michigan Advance contributor Andrew Roth contributed to this report.
