By The Democratic brand has become so damaged in one swing state that the frontrunner to become the next governor has declared he’s leaving the party. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a Democrat for much of his career, announced on Wednesday that he will run as an independent candidate in Michigan’s 2026 gubernatorial race. His decision marks a significant blow to the Michigan Democratic Party following Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Duggan, who has led Detroit’s revitalization for the past decade, emphasized his desire to move beyond partisan politics and provide an alternative to the current two-party system. Speaking with ABC News, he stated, “It’s clear to me that there are a lot of people in this country who are tired of both parties and tired of the system. And so I want to offer people a choice.”
Throughout his tenure as mayor, Duggan has overseen a remarkable transformation in Detroit. His campaign announcement highlighted key accomplishments that have been praised by Republicans and Democrats alike, including his staunch support for reproductive rights, advocacy for LGBTQ+ protections, and opposition to the “Defund the Police” movement.
He also attributed Detroit’s improved safety to measures like increasing police salaries and bolstering law enforcement presence, which have contributed to the city achieving its lowest homicide rate since the 1960s and a sharp decline in carjackings. Despite these achievements, Duggan voiced frustration with the divisive nature of modern politics. “The current system forces people to pick sides instead of finding solutions,” he said. “If you and your neighbors are ready for real conversations about change and are tired of the political gridlock, I want to meet you in your community.”
The Washington Examiner noted that “Ed Duggan, Mike Duggan’s son, notably served as both President Joe Biden and Harris’s state campaign director in Michigan this cycle, and Democrats’ underperformance in the critical swing state played a major factor in Harris’s loss.
Adolpho Mongo, a Detroit-based political commentator, called Duggan’s decision to leave the party a ‘gutsy move’ that ‘hurts the Democratic Party.’
‘There have been rumblings from folks that we need a third party, a real one,’ Mongo said. ‘There’s no question that he is going to take a ton of Democrats with him. It’s also going to free up those moderate Republicans who are not buying MAGA.’”
The gubernatorial race is expected to feature high-profile candidates from both major parties, wrote The Detroit News. On the Republican side, figures like State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, former Attorney General Mike Cox, former state Representative Tom Leonard, and U.S. Representative John James are all potential contenders.
For the Democrats, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who established Michigan residency in 2022, is among the names being floated along with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The latter recently came under fire when it was revealed that Michigan had been counting illegal votes.
Benson seemed to take a veiled shot at Duggan on Twitter following his announcement.
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…
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) December 4, 2024
If elected, Duggan would make history as Michigan’s first independent governor, a development that could have far-reaching implications for the state’s political landscape.
Michigan’s current governor, Gretchen Whitmer, is considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028, despite chairing the failed campaigns of both Biden and Harris. She last made national news performing one of the strangest political stunts in decades.
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