Gerik Maverick is a Southwest Michigan native, nonprofit leader, and LGBTQ+ advocate running for State Representative in Michigan’s 37th District. Coming from a working-class family, he grew up relying on programs like free school lunch, watching his father’s small business nearly collapse during the 2008 financial crisis. His partner, a public school teacher, gives him first hand insight into the struggles and successes of Michigan’s education system.
Meet Gerik
His faith-based upbringing led Gerik to become a credentialed minister in 2017. This background deeply influenced his political development, with revolutionary figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Fred Hampton serving as inspirations for turning values into action. These values led him to a career in nonprofit work, where he has spent over eight years focused on building community, supporting families, and fighting for justice.
Now, Gerik is stepping up to fight for Southwest Michigan. His campaign is built on a simple principle: communities are strongest when we protect workers, invest locally, and ensure every child has a fair shot at success.
Gerik Maverick isn’t a politician, he’s a fighter. Now he’s ready to take the fight to Lansing.
When Gerik and his partner Duke chose to get married, they made the meaningful decision to create a new last name to reflect the family they were building together. However, Michigan’s restrictive and outdated name change laws, now partially overturned, posed significant barriers. Concerns around privacy, safety, and a costly legal process led them to delay that change. Even today, they continue to navigate remaining hurdles, including a requirement to live in your current county of residence for one full calendar year, regardless of how long you have lived in the region or state. Their new last name, Maverick, will be made official during this campaign, an empowering personal step, and a reminder of how much work remains to ensure that Michigan law fully respects the dignity and privacy of every individual and family.