Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has announced his run for governor, but unlike what politicos were predicting, he’ll be running as an independent rather than a Democrat.
He launched his campaign website Wednesday morning: Duggan for Michigan, An Independent for Governor.
Detroit’s three-term mayor said he would not seek reelection as mayor, fanning the flames of rumors at the time that he was entertaining a campaign for governor in 2026 once term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vacates the office.
In a press release, Duggan explained his reasoning for making his bid as Michigan’s chief executive as an independent as the best way to put partisanship aside to represent the entire state and not just one party.
“I’m not running to be the Democrats’ governor or the Republicans’ governor. I’m running to be your governor,” Duggan said in the release.
The last time a Michigan governor was not a Republican or Democrat was 1842, when a member of the Whig party held the office, according to the National Governors Association.
“What we’ve done in Detroit is something we can do across Michigan. I am convinced it’s the partisanship that’s stopping us from making real change in our education system and enacting the transformation we need to inspire our young people to see a future for themselves that doesn’t require leaving Michigan. I believe Michigan’s largest export is no longer our automobiles – it’s our young people,” said Duggan.
The field remains clear for any Democrats or Republicans to formally join the primary races, although a few have teased their interest publicly.
Duggan’s decision to run for governor in 2026 as an independent was seen by political observers Wednesday morning as a strategic decision based on concerns about how he’d fare in a split and competitive Democratic primary.
As the presumed Democratic field sits, Duggan is left without a natural constituency all to himself. If Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II runs, Duggan doesn’t have the city of Detroit to himself.
If Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson runs, Duggan doesn’t have mainstream Democrats to himself and women will have a candidate they would likely gravitate toward.
If Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson runs, Duggan doesn’t have the pragmatic, suburban voter to himself.
By running as an independent, he gives all of these Democratic constituencies a landing spot after the primary if they don’t like the nominee. Meanwhile, nobody is emerging as a clear front-runner for the Republicans.
If the GOP nominates a polarizing/Donald Trump-like candidate without much money as they did in 2022, the calculus is that Duggan attracts enough independents, pragmatic Republicans and dissatisfied Democrats to pull it off.
It’s a huge gamble and political observers were split as to how successful it’s likely to be.
“Genius and insanity are divided by a very thin line. It’s hard for mortals to know for sure, but I’m pretty sure Mike just crossed over,” said Mark Grebner of Practical Political Data.
Adrian Hemond from Grassroots Midwest went as far as to call Duggan the favorite at this extremely early stage of the race.
“Smart move,” he said. “No baggage from the Democratic Party. It allows him to play to the center from jump street.”
Former House Speaker Jase Bolger said history is not on Duggan’s side since no independent has pulled off what’s he’s trying to do. But, it depends on whom each party nominates. A pair of polarizing candidates opens up the possibility that he’s successful.
“Clearly, he’s running away from today’s Democrats, which is smart. The last election showed us the voters aren’t buying what the Democrats are selling,” Bolger said. “Looking at it today, it’s a pretty anti-politician environment. We’ll see where the voters are two years from now. Someone is going to win with a plurality. It’s too early to give odds on his campaign, but they’re long. Not impossible, but long.”
Working to his advantage is that Duggan has never been an outwardly rabid progressive, noted John Sellek of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs.
“He’s the guy who makes government work,” he said. “Detroit voters knew that when they elected him as a write-in and the first serious white candidate in 50 years – and they were proven correct.”
“It would be an unprecedented achievement, but he’s done it before,” Sellek added.
Duggan’s biggest challenge is expected to be fundraising. He’s not known for liking the fundraising aspect of being a political figure and, without a political party, he’ll need to rely on the business community and Super PACs to get out his message.
In that regard, running as an independent may free up more of that business community money if executives don’t want to be tied into party politics, one observer said.
William Clay Ford Jr., executive chair of the Ford Motor Company, got the ball rolling Wednesday morning by quickly endorsing the Mayor.
“Based on the political climate in Michigan, Duggan sees an opportunity to build bridges and do something that rarely is accomplished,” said Mario Morrow Sr., of Mario Morrow & Associates. “Duggan is appealing to members of both parties, ‘such as’ young folks who are frustrated and feel disenfranchised. … He can walk into the general election unbruised, unlike the Democratic and Republican candidates who will all come out bloody from difficult primaries.
“In short, a brilliant move.”
Republicans likely will not let Duggan escape his background with the Democratic Party. Duggan was a big supporter of President Joe Biden. He ran as a Democrat for prosecutor in 2000 as part of the Ed McNamara machine. He even spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
Republican political consultant John Yob sees Duggan as splitting the Democratic vote.
“With one press release, the Democratic Party went from slight favorites in the 2026 election to distant third,” Yob said. “This is the best news for Republicans since Election Day.
Asked if Duggan would attract business-minded Republicans, Yob quipped, “Most of the types of Republicans that he would attract already left the party of Donald Trump.”
In related news, potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates have reacted to the news.
Benson tweeted, “I’m proud to be a Democrat. We’re the party of fairness, freedom of opportunity for all. We’re the party that does the courageous thing because it’s the right thing. We are the party that recognizes we’re all in this together and we will only truly thrive and prosper when all thrive and prosper. We are the party that stands with the voters and stands with democracy.”
After testifying at a House committee, Swanson told MIRS: “Clearly, he has made a very strategic and thought-out move that, obviously, anyone can see, comes with risk. . . . There had to be a lot of discussion, a lot of maybe even better research. It does clear the field for the Democratic primary a little bit more.”
No independent candidate for governor has ever won in Michigan before. If there has ever been an independent candidate for any other statewide office, Bill Ballenger of the Ballenger Report said he doesn’t know of it.
“It’s incredible,” Ballenger said. “It puts the Democratic Party in a bind if Duggan splits the non-Republican vote and the Republicans are united. That’s a big if. It depends on who they nominate.”
Michigan did vote for a third-party candidate for president in 1912, with Theodore Roosevelt, but Roosevelt had the support of the short-lived Progressive Party. Duggan, presumably, will not, Ballenger said.
Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
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