For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  The Next 50, the leading organization making early investments in next-generation Democrats under 50 in competitive races nationwide, today announced endorsements of Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist in his run for Michigan Secretary of State. Gilchrist has served as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan since 2019 and is also a NewDEAL Leader.

“Garlin Gilchrist is exactly the kind of leader The Next 50 exists to support—principled, pragmatic, energetic, and focused on making government work for real people,” said Mari Manoogian, Executive Director of The Next 50 and former Michigan state representative. “As we saw in 2020, the Michigan Secretary of State office is the tip of the spear for safeguarding our elections. Just last week, Donald Trump threatened to, unconstitutionally, federalize Michigan’s elections. We need a Secretary of State who will stand tall to ensure we have free and fair elections in 2028 and beyond. Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist has spent his career making government more accessible, more efficient, and more responsive to everyday people—that’s exactly what this moment demands and why we’re proud to support him.”

“I’m honored to earn the endorsement of The Next 50,” said Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “At a moment when Donald Trump and his MAGA extremists are openly attacking our democracy, we need leaders who are ready to protect voting rights, safeguard our elections, and make government work for the people. Democracy has to work if we’re going to tackle the biggest challenges facing our communities — from lowering costs and creating good jobs to rooting out corruption. As Secretary of State, I’ll keep working to defend access to the ballot and ensure every Michigander can make their voice heard.”

About Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist

Garlin Gilchrist is a husband, dad, a public servant, and an engineer dedicated to making government work for regular people. Now, he’s running for Secretary of State to make government work for all of us — and to protect your right to vote.

Working alongside Governor Whitmer, Garlin has a proven track record of leading and delivering for Michigan. He played a leading role in delivering free pre-k for all, increasing small business success and diversifying the state economy, protecting abortion access, bringing more high-quality jobs to Michigan, reforming our justice system to create opportunity and keep communities safe, and connecting tens of thousands of Michiganders to reliable, affordable and fast internet.

Prior to serving as Lieutenant Governor, served as the City of Detroit’s Director of Innovation, worked at Microsoft as a software engineer that helped build SharePoint into the fastest growing product in the company’s history. Garlin is the highest ranking Black elected official in Michigan history and the country’s only statewide elected software engineer. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Ellen, where they are raising their twins, Emily and Garlin III, and daughter, Ruby.

###

ABOUT THE NEXT 50

The Next 50 is the angel investor of Democratic bench-building — making high-conviction early investments in the next generation of Democratic leaders under 50 in battlegrounds across the country. We stay laser-focused on the type of candidates we want to support: leaders who are principled, pragmatic, energetic, and focused. With just 50 carefully selected endorsements per cycle, we provide transformative early support that includes strategic counsel, donor network access, and intensive campaign partnership—not just a check and a tweet. This approach delivered a perfect 10-for-10 record across some of 2025’s most competitive races.