Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist ends bid for governor to run for secretary of state

Lansing—Lt.Gov.GarlinGilchristIIannouncedMondayhe’sdroppinghiscampaignforgovernorinordertolaunchabidtobeMichigan’snextsecretaryofstate. Theswitchhasbeenintheworksforweeksandwillhaveawaveofpoliticalrepercussions.ItmeanscurrentSecretaryofStateJocelynBensonhasaclearerpathtotheDemocraticnominationforgovernor.HerloneremainingopponentintheAugustprimaryisGeneseeCountySheriffChrisSwanson. Likewise,Gilchrist,43,ofDetroit,whowasGov.GretchenWhitmer’srunningmatein2018and2022,islikelytobecomethebiggestnameeitherpartyhasintheraceforsecretaryofstate. “Thisisachange,”Gilchristsaidinaninterview.“MytimemaycometorunforandearnthechancetoserveasgovernorofMichigan,butnowisnotthattime.” Gilchristjoinedthegovernor’sraceinMarch,sayingMichiganneededa“problemsolver.”ButhestruggledtoraisemoneyandtocutintoBenson’sl