Democratic Detroit mayor launches independent run for Michigan governor
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan kicked off a run for governor of Michigan as an independent on Wednesday, despite having long been a Democrat, an unexpected development in what will be a hotly contested race.
Duggan first shared his plans in an interview with The Associated Press that he gave the day before, saying many are “tired of both parties and tired of the system” and that he wants to “offer people a choice.”
He formally announced his 2026 run in a video, emphasizing his record as mayor of Detroit and calling for a “whole new approach” with a governor not running as a candidate from either party.
“I’m not running to be the Democrats’ governor or the Republicans’ governor,” he said. “I’m running to be your governor.”
Duggan will seek to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who will be term-limited in 2026 after being elected to two terms.
He has served as mayor of Detroit since 2014 after a successful write-in campaign to become the first white mayor of the majority Black city in decades. He was reelected in 2017 and 2021 and has been overwhelmingly popular in the city.
Duggan became mayor months after the city declared bankruptcy, but Detroit has strongly recovered since then during his tenure.
He noted that unemployment in the city dropped to its lowest level in more than 30 years, new auto plants were built, investments were made in affordable housing and the population grew for the first time in more than six decades while he has been mayor.
The city’s budget has also regularly been balanced and crime, including homicides, has dropped.
Duggan vowed to travel across the state to hear from Michigan residents on what they think about the issues facing the state, which he said is the same way he began his first mayoral campaign.
He mentioned that young people are leaving Michigan at a faster rate than any other state, and “real change” is needed to build up the economy. He said schools are not doing enough to prepare children for success and more resources are needed to ensure improvements while parents’ voices are involved in their children’s education.
Duggan is an early entrant into a gubernatorial race that could get crowded on both sides. For Democrats, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist III and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are among the rumored possible candidates.
On the GOP side, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) and 2022 GOP nominee Tudor Dixon have expressed interest.