Duggan Ends Independent Campaign For Governor

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/21/2026) Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan ended his campaign Thursday, 56 days before the filing deadline and days after polls showed the former Detroit mayor losing momentum despite $14 million in third-party ad spending on his behalf.

Duggan, backed heavily by the business community, mounted what was likely the most credible independent gubernatorial run in recent Michigan history. Early polling showed Duggan with high approval ratings and strong support in Metro Detroit, offering a potential landing spot for voters frustrated with the toxic and polarizing political environment following the 2024 presidential campaign.

However, Duggan struggled to adapt as the national political conversation shifted toward the war in Iran and rising gas prices. While major-party candidates increasingly embraced sharper partisan messaging, Duggan largely avoided weighing in publicly on issues largely outside the governor’s direct control.

The former Detroit mayor told reporters on Thursday he had a difficult conversation Saturday with his son and campaign manager, Ed Duggan, during which the two concluded there was no realistic path to victory. National analysts and pollsters consulted over the weekend reportedly reached the same conclusion.

“The Democratic candidates at all levels are surging because of the anger on the national stage,” Duggan said.

“We had to deal with reality. We were 11 points down and slipping. And the question was, do we have the resources?” Duggan said. The campaign attempted to expand its fundraising nationally and found interest in independent candidacies, but relatively few donors willing to financially invest.

Duggan said the alternative would have been asking core Michigan donors to “double down” again despite worsening political conditions. Ultimately, he said he could not justify doing so because he no longer believed enough voters could be persuaded to split their ticket by supporting Democratic candidates down ballot while voting for him for governor.

“He tried to do the impossible, and he failed,” said Mark Grebner of Practical Political Data. “Then, even more amazing, he admitted the quest was a failure rather than pretending he could see a road leading somewhere he knew it didn’t.”

The recent Mitchell poll conducted for MIRS showed Democrat Jocelyn Benson leading with 42%, Republican John James (R-Shelby Township) at 32% and Duggan at 13%, a sharp decline from earlier polling that showed him running competitively with the presumed major-party frontrunners.

The Michigan Democratic Party quickly praised Duggan following the announcement.

“The mayor brought crucial ideas to this race, and we appreciate his commitment to bringing people together,” said MDP Chair Curtis Hertel.

Meanwhile, Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) criticized Duggan’s candidacy, saying, “Mike Duggan’s exit is no surprise — voters saw through a lifelong Democrat masquerading as an independent.”

“Now attention turns to Jocelyn Benson, who still hasn’t answered serious ethical questions, while Republicans will nominate a proven leader focused on Michigan families,” Runestad added.

Duggan also appeared frustrated earlier this week during the UAW gubernatorial forum. Benson delivered one of the more memorable lines of the event when she referred to Duggan as the “corporate candidate.”

MIRS broke the story of Duggan’s departure around 10:40 p.m. Thursday. Political consultant Jeff Timmer of the Lincoln Project later called the news a “tectonic shift” and a major blow to Republican hopes down ballot.

“Duggan’s candidacy provided them with the facade of competitiveness,” Timmer wrote. “They are massive underdogs now in the governor’s race. The bottom fell out of their chances to flip the U.S. Senate seat or to win MI04, MI07 or MI10.”

Former Congressman Justin Amash argued Michigan’s straight-ticket voting law makes it extraordinarily difficult for independents and third-party candidates to succeed, renewing his call for repeal of the system.

Duggan served three terms as mayor of Detroit after first winning office in 2013 as a write-in candidate. Before becoming mayor, he served as president and CEO of the Detroit Medical Center and previously held several positions in Wayne County government, including assistant corporation counsel and deputy county executive.

He graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School and earned both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Michigan.

The speculation machine fired up almost immediately that Mike Duggan, a proud University of Michigan alum, could make a serious run at the school's independent president."