Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ends independent bid for Michigan governor

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Thursday ended his independent campaign for governor in Michigan, citing national headwinds that are boosting Democrats.“If we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Thursday ended his independent campaign for governor in Michigan, citing national headwinds that are boosting Democrats.

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“If we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning. If we were behind in the polls and even in fundraising, we have a path. But we’re behind in both,” Duggan wrote on his campaign 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.”

The former mayor served in Detroit as a Democrat, but in 2024 launched an independent bid for governor, promising to push back against “the political fighting and the nonsense that once held Detroit back.”