Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democratic candidate for governor, on the porch of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., during the second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist’s coalition of supporters in his bid for governor grew on Wednesday, with new endorsements from three local leaders who praised his time in office and his acumen for collaborating with locals on key issues.
The list of new endorsements included Lathrop Village Mayor Kelly Garrett, Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich and Delta Township Supervisor Fonda Brewer.
Rich in a statement said she was “all in on Garlin.”
“We are in extraordinary times, and extraordinary times call for extraordinary leadership. Garlin Gilchrist leads by showing up and listening, collaborating with the local community, all to deliver real solutions to the issues that keep families up at night,” Rich said. “Garlin is the leader that I trust to have everyone’s back and fight for our values at a time [when] we need bold leadership in the Democratic Party and in our country.”
Gilchrist thanked the trio for their support in a statement, hailing local leaders as the heartbeats of their communities.
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”I’m honored to have the support of these local leaders who are on the front lines delivering for their communities every day,” Gilchrist said. “Mayors Kelly Garrett and Theresa Rich and Supervisor Fonda Brewer represent the very best of public service – putting people over profits and fighting to address kitchen table issues. I’m proud to stand with them as we work to build a Michigan where everyone can stay and succeed in every corner of the state.”
Gilchrist currently faces Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Genesee Sheriff Chris Swanson and former Cape Coral, Fla., Mayor Marni Sawicki, who are also seeking the Democratic Party nomination.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Portage, former Attorney General Mike Cox, former House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt, Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson and Traverse City native Evan Space are seeking their party’s nomination.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat, is also running for governor but as an independent candidate.
