Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the state’s first Black lieutenant governor, announced his campaign for governor on March 11, 2025. | Kyle Davidson
Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II on Thursday evening said that police responded to his home on a report of a credible bomb threat.
Gilchrist is a resident of Detroit. He said in a statement issued via email and on social media that the threat has been cleared. He thanked law enforcement for their quick response, and for “keeping my family and our neighborhood safe.”
The incident occurred a day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a university event in Utah.
“I know that people are on edge – it’s a scary time … in the midst of an escalating pattern of political violence in Michigan and in America,” Gilchrist said. “The purpose of this violence is to silence, intimidate, and eliminate people and their voices from our society. That won’t work on me. We cannot let this remain our reality.”
A message seeking comment and further details of the incident from the Michigan Department of State Police was not returned at the time of publication.
A spokesperson for the city of Detroit said that State Police were handling media inquires regarding the incident when asked if the city’s police and fire departments responded to Gilchrist’s home on Thursday.
Gilchrist, who is also a candidate for governor in 2026, added that the nation and Michigan “cannot tolerate political violence.”
“We cannot excuse it. We cannot normalize it,” he said. “We have to push through this and do the work to do better. It’s not easy, but nothing important ever is. It’s up to us to dig deep and commit to ending violence and creating a safe, healthy society.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also commented on the incident on social media.
“I’m grateful that Lt. Governor Gilchrist and his family are safe after the bomb threat at his home today,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Let me be clear – political violence is unacceptable and has no place in Michigan. As Michiganders, we must reject all political violence and work towards a safer future.”
Reports of bomb threats were documented around the nation on Thursday, including against New Mexico’s Democratic Senate and House leaders, and numerous historically Black colleges and university campuses. Rhode Island State Police also said they were investigating bomb threats against top Senate Democrats on Thursday afternoon, however, the law enforcement agency said the emailed threats appeared to be hoaxes.
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