U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Tuesday endorsed Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II for Michigan governor, praising his record on working people, labor unions, and his support for people rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
In a video posted on social media, Tlaib said she trusts Gilchrist to fight for families and those too often left behind.
“I trust Garlin,” the Detroit Democrat said. “His lived experience, not only as a father but as someone that understands what it means when we don’t have people in office defending us and fighting on our behalf. He has shown up at the picket line, and he’s shown up for our folks that are returning citizens that need that second chance. He believed in them, and that’s why he helped push the Clean Slate Program. I know again many of you feel very strongly that we need a fighter. I know Garlin is going to fight for us, and that’s why I’m proud to support him for governor of the state of Michigan.”
Michigan’s Clean Slate Program, which Gilchrist helped champion, allows many residents with past criminal convictions to have their records automatically cleared after a set number of years. The policy, enacted under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was designed to remove barriers to jobs and housing for people who have completed their sentences and stayed out of trouble.
Tlaib’s endorsement likely gives Gilchrist a boost among progressives and voters who support expanding economic opportunity and reforming the criminal justice system.
Gilchrist, who announced his campaign in September, has also drawn national attention for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which he called “a genocide” at a Dearborn conference last month. His remarks, along with his refusal to accept donations from pro-Israel groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), could energize many progressives and Arab American voters, a key bloc in next year’s Democratic primary.
Tlaib is the only Palestinian American in Congress.
“@RashidaTlaib’s endorsement means something real,” Gilchrist wrote on social media. “She trusts me because she knows I’ve shown up, stood on the picket line, fought for second chances, and fought for you.”
He added, “Let’s keep fighting the good fight, together.”
The Democratic field also includes Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, and former Cape Coral, Florida Mayor Marni Sawicki.
The election to replace Whitmer, who is term-limited, will be held in 2026.
