Duggan: 'How's The Independent Candidacy Feeling Tonight?'

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/19/2025) (DETROIT) – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says every candidate in a swing House and Senate seat next year "is going to need my independent voters to vote for them," describing the momentum behind his independent campaign for governor.

"In December, when I announced I was running for governor, the experts said 'Ah, an independent. That's not going to go anywhere.' How's the independent candidacy feeling tonight?" Duggan said to hundreds of supporters this evening inside Michigan Central Station, which was reopened early last summer as part of a technology hub after 36 years of being vacant.

The event highlighted self-identifying Democrats and Republicans who have become public supporters of Duggan ahead of the 2026 elections. It featured Coney dog stations, a 360 photo booth and sparkler packs reading "Michigan Needs A Really Good Mayor."

Speakers included Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor, a Republican who backed President Joe Biden in 2020; President Porsche Laster of the Romulus School District, located in a Democratic-majority city; Hudsonville Mayor Mark Northrup, a Republican, and Mayor Joe LaRussa of Farmington, where President Donald Trump lost last year with 27 percent of the vote.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan fields reporters questions in Detroit.

Mo Baydoun, chair of the Dearborn Heights City Council, also spoke. Earlier this month, he led his primary to become Dearborn Heights' next mayor with more than 58 percent of the vote.

"The Republicans, Democrats…do you see how angry they are attacking me? They act as if they own your vote, and I'm offended," Duggan said to his crowd. "Nobody owns your vote but you, and the candidate ought to come out each year and earn it, and all I want is the chance to do that."

During his speech, Duggan referenced $75 million that was set aside in last year's budget deal for a public safety and violence prevention fund. The proposal still hasn't been acted on – because legislators did not pass legislation implementing the “Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund” it was intended for. Last term, a proposal passed in the House to dedicate 1.5 percent of sales tax revenue, not going towards schools, to municipalities' violent crime prevention efforts.

On other issues, Duggan said there is "very troubling gun violence" taking place in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint and Pontiac.

"Do you realize today, $100 million in appropriated money to fight gun violence in cities is locked in a bank account in Lansing because of partisan politics?" Duggan said, describing how the Republican-led House has bills distributing the dollars but "the Senate Democrats won't vote on it because they don't want (House Speaker Matt HALL (R-Richland Township)) and the House Republicans to get credit."

Additionally, he talked about a PreK-12 budget deal still not being done by legislators. Lawmakers in Lansing have missed the July 1 deadline they created in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's first term for presenting new fiscal year budget agreements to her desk.

The new fiscal year begins in around 43 days. Duggan has said if elected governor, his first action will be to call to suspend the salaries of legislators, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor as a consequence of missing the July 1 deadline.

"The principals who want to put in a reading program don't know how much money they have. They don't know if they can hire extra teachers or extra tutors. They don't even know if they have enough money for hot lunches for the children," Duggan said. "It is time to … to tell the folks in Lansing that politics as usual is over."

Among those who are endorsing Duggan include Michigan State University Trustee Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Board of Governor Bryan Barnhill, University of Michigan Regent Mark Bernstein, Republican University of Michigan's Denise Illitch and Wayne County Governor Dr. Anil Kumar.

Curtis Hertel Jr., chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, came out with a message today targeting Democrats who attended this evening's event.

"I look forward to their independent campaigns," Hertel said.