Duggan exits governor race
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Mike Duggan speaks in September at a Ford Pro Accelerate event in Detroit. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his independent campaign for governor Thursday, telling supporters he no longer sees a viable path to victory as national political forces reshape Michigan's race.
Why it matters: Duggan built a broad coalition of labor groups, business leaders and elected officials from both parties around his anti-partisanship message. Those supporters are now up for grabs in one of the country's marquee governor's races.
Between the lines: Duggan's exit could especially benefit Democrats, who no longer face the prospect of an independent candidate siphoning moderate and crossover voters in November.
What they're saying: "I know he was taking votes away from Republicans, but in the end, Jocelyn (Benson) is going to benefit," Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch tells Axios, referring to the Democratic Party's gubernatorial front-runner.
The intrigue: Duggan's departure eases Benson's burden of winning Detroit, added Kinloch, who's also chairman of the Democratic Party's 13th Congressional District.
- Duggan just finished his third term as mayor, having guided the city out of bankruptcy while growing downtown's economy.
Zoom out: The withdrawal marks a sudden end to what had been one of the country's most high-profile independent gubernatorial bids.
State of play: Duggan said increasingly nationalized politics left little room for an independent campaign.
- He cited Democrats' big win in a Saginaw-area state Senate special election this month and the party's unification amid the war in Iran and rising gas prices.
- Recent polling that showed him 11 points behind Benson painted a bleak picture when combined with his fundraising headwinds, he wrote on his website.
"It's just not right to ask our volunteers, faith leaders, unions, elected officials and donors to continue in a campaign that, in my heart, I no longer feel good about our chances to win," Duggan wrote.
- "I got into this race to try to change our politics, not to be a spoiler."
What we're watching: Whether Duggan endorses another candidate in the race.