Democratic candidate for governor, Gretchen Whitmer, chose her running mate today.
Detroiter Garlin Gilchrist will join Whitmer on the November ballot. Gilchrist is a former director of Innovation and Emerging Technology for the city of Detroit. He was also endorsed by progressive groups in a prior campaign for Detroit City Clerk.
Gilchrist is already being criticized for lack of experience in the Legislature. But Whitmer says Gilchrist has the right priorities.
“I have more experience than the last two governors combined. Experience is not a problem in state government," Whitmer said. "What is a problem right now is we don’t have people who know how to get things done.”
Gilchrist is the only person of color at the top of the ticket. He – along with candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State – will be officially nominated at a convention this weekend.
Whitmer’s Republican opponent for governor, Bill Schuette announced his running mate last week. His lieutenant governor pick is former state Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons.
Stateside's Cynthia Canty spoke with Chad Livengood of Crain's Detroit Business about Gilchrist.
