Detroit Mayor Duggan announces run for governor — but not as a Democrat
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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at a news conference this week. Photo: Courtesy of the city of Detroit via Flickr
Mayor Mike Duggan's announcement today that he's running for governor came with an unexpected twist that redefines the entire race — he's running as an independent, not a Democrat.
Why it matters: The move allows Duggan to break away from a Democratic Party in crisis mode and build a 2026 campaign focused on his accomplishments running the city for the past decade.
- Detroit is rumbling toward a period of massive change. Duggan's new campaign and next year's mayoral race will reshape city government for years to come.
Between the lines: It also allows him to avoid what is shaping up to be a competitive Democratic gubernatorial primary, with potential candidates including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and can't run in 2026.
What they're saying: Duggan, who has cultivated many powerful Democratic allies all the way up to President Joe Biden, told the Detroit News he decided to run as an independent a week after President-elect Trump's victory.
- "My Democratic dues card came in the mail," he told the News. "I told my wife I'm not renewing this year."
Context: Duggan's fundraising prowess makes his shift toward the middle less risky. Whereas other candidates might be reliant on donors loyal to the Democratic Party, Duggan has relationships with billionaire developers Dan Gilbert and Stephen Ross and many other well-heeled potential donors.
- Ford executive chair Bill Ford Jr., who worked closely with Duggan on the automaker's Michigan Central Station revitalization, has already endorsed his candidacy: "I firmly believe Mike Duggan has the vision, experience and determination to help our state thrive and realize its full potential," he said in a statement Wednesday.
Flashback: Duggan was elected mayor in 2013 through a write-in campaign when the city was in the midst of its historic bankruptcy case.
- His administration has kept the city's budgets balanced and he has successfully worked with major developers and companies to invest in Detroit. His leadership during the pandemic was lauded. Big events like this year's NFL Draft shone a positive light on the city.
- But Duggan's tenure as mayor has not been spotless. His blight demolition program was under federal investigation and the city's inspector general found in 2019 that he gave preferential treatment to a health program run by his now-wife.
What we're watching: Duggan said his top priority next year will be his duties as mayor before campaigning full time in 2026.
- But several high-ranking city officials, including former chief operating officer Brad Dick and former police chief James White, have recently departed ahead of his long-rumored run for governor.
What's next: Despite his commitment to the mayor's office, Duggan's balancing act starts this month as he embarks on listening sessions with residents across the state.