(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/19/2024) Will Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II run for governor in 2026?  If he doesn't, he'll be the first lieutenant governor since Luren Dickinson in 1930 to not seek the top post after the governor he served under didn't run again, either due to term limits or for a personal reason. 

Here's the history: Lt. Gov. Brian Calley lost in the GOP primary in 2018 when Gov. Rick Snyder was termed out of office. Lt. Gov. John Cherry dropped out of the Democratic nomination race in 2010 when Gov. Jennifer Granholm was termed out of office. Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus lost in the 2002 general election when Gov. John Engler was term limited. Lt. Gov. James Brickley lost in the 1982 GOP primary when Gov. Bill Milliken opted against running for another term. Lt. Gov. John Swainson in 1960 won the office after Gov. G. Mennen Williams opted against a seventh term. And Lt. Gov. Vernon Brown in 1946 lost the GOP nomination when Gov. Harry Kelly didn't run again. 

Gov. Jim Blanchard, Gov. Swainson, Gov. Kim Sigler, Gov. Murray VanWagoner, Gov. Luren Dickinson and Gov. William Comstock were all defeated in re-election. Gov. George Romney left prior to the end of this term to join the President Richard Nixon administration. Gov. Frank D. Fitzgerald died in office. 

So, raise your hand if you assume Gilchrist will also run for governor. 

The Lieutenant Governor has some advice for those who think that way. 

“No one should ever make assumptions. You know what that word spells,” Gilchrist said, referencing the old phrase that those who “assume” make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” 

That advice notwithstanding, lots of folks are still assuming he will run, but he has never said it in so many words. Last summer, on the eve of the national Democratic convention in Chicago, some might say the following statement came close. 

"I'm excited about the notion of continuing to potentially be able to be a public servant going forward," he said. Of course, he could include any form of public service from governor to mayor of Detroit and everything in between. 

The interview started with his discussion about building relationships and how he is doing that "every single day (and) I will continue to build them my whole time as lt. governor of Michigan," he said. 

 And he anticipates that this building process will pay off. 

"I think those relationships are going to bear fruit in terms of improved quality of life for the people of Michigan," he predicted. 

But what about the inability of those in the second-in-command position to win the governorship? The only Lieutenant Governor elected to the position of governor without first serving in that position was Swainson. 

Former Lt. Govs. Milliken, Dickinson, Andrew Parsons, William Greenly and James Gordon all ascended to the position of governor due to resignation or death. Of this batch of former Governors, only Milliken won election on his own. 

So does Michigan have a curse on the position of Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Gilchrist? 

"No we don't," he said. 

Well, what about having the nomination handed to one on a platter because of eight years of service in the second spot on the ticket? 

Back to his original line, "No one should ever make assumptions." 

One thing you can assume will happen if he does finally make the announcement. 

He won't be alone. 

And you won't be a you-know-what if you make that assumption.