Well-Known GOP Moderate for Duggan

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/24/2026) There are a lot of folks in town and across Michigan whose names you'd recognize who are supporting independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan, but don't want to be overtly public about it.

Joe Schwarz is not one of them.

"If the election were held tomorrow I would vote for Mike Duggan," said the former Battle Creek mayor.

Schwarz — an ear, nose and throat doctor by trade — also served in the state senate from 1987 to 2002 and one term in Congress (2005-06).

He does know a thing or two about running for governor, having done it in 2002 as a moderate, losing decisively to then-Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus. Eight years later, the good doctor toyed with running as an independent, but when the cash did not roll in he bailed out.

In past election cycles, Schwarz has been on record supporting Democratic candidates for governor, like Gretchen Whitmer and Mark Schauer as his old party has swung hard to the right. This year, he has another option that he's choosing to take.

Why Duggan? Schwarz has not had any contact with the campaign, but he thinks being from the "populous part of the state" is a strong asset.

Schwarz concluded that the former mayor sparked some "appealing programs" while running the city of Detroit, and those successes will have broad appeal.

"My guess is, he wins."

Schwarz also offered brief thoughts on some of the other aspirants for the post.

"I don't know Perry Johnson," he said. "John James is a good guy, but we need more than a good guy to be governor."

He does know Jocelyn Benson, and "I like her," but apparently not enough to get his support.