A race that usually flies under the radar is suddenly front and center in Michigan politics.

This week on Beyond Both Sides, we unpack why Michigan’s Secretary of State race has become one of the most consequential contests of the 2026 cycle. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist’s entry has dramatically raised the stakes, putting new attention on an office that oversees elections, voting access, campaign finance, and public trust in outcomes.

But that shift isn’t happening in isolation. We also break down:

• Why Michigan congressional candidates are raising serious money earlier than ever

• How questions about transparency and cryptocurrency investments are shaping a key Detroit primary

• What rising home values in Detroit mean for trust in property assessments, affordability, and local government credibility

Different stories, one shared theme: who do people trust to run the institutions they depend on—and what happens when that trust is tested?

In our deep dive, we explain why the Secretary of State role carries so much power in a swing state like Michigan, how the nominating convention process works, and what Gilchrist’s move means for both parties heading into a high-stakes election year.

We close with a reminder that trust isn’t built only through politics, but through consistency and service—highlighted by a Detroit educator whose decades in the classroom earned a world record.

Hosted by Chris Moyer and Allie Walker.
From Truscott Rossman, this is Beyond Both Sides.