Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Thursday he is ending his independent campaign for Michigan governor, just six months before the election, acknowledging he was heavily outspent by his Republican and Democratic rivals.
In a statement on his campaign website, Duggan wrote that he and his team recognized the independent path would be difficult, but the financial reality proved insurmountable. He had raised over $3.2 million in the first half of his campaign, with more than 94% of donations coming from Michigan residents, but that was not enough to compete with the well-funded operations of the major party candidates.
National Party Money Drove Duggan Out
Duggan specifically noted that his campaign was "strongly outspent by the national Republican and Democratic parties this fall." He argued that modern governor's races rely heavily on established networks of national party money, making it nearly impossible for an independent to gain traction.
The former Democrat also pointed to a shifting national mood as a factor. He said internal polling showed that anger over gas prices and the U.S.-Iran conflict was boosting Democratic candidates across the board. Since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, national average gas prices have climbed to $4.56, according to AAA. Duggan cited a Chamber poll showing he had fallen 11 points behind the Democratic candidate, reflecting that reality.
No independent has ever served as governor of Michigan, and third-party candidates historically face steep odds in statewide races.
Benson Likely Beneficiary
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the leading Democrat in the race, quickly thanked Duggan for his service to Detroit. "We may not always agree on everything, but we share a commitment to building a stronger Michigan," she wrote on social media. Political analysts at The Cook Political Report had viewed the contest as a competitive three-way race among Duggan, Benson, and Republican frontrunner Rep. John James. With Duggan out, Benson is positioned to consolidate the anti-Republican vote.
Duggan, first elected mayor of Detroit in 2013, opted against seeking a fourth term. In December 2024, he left the Democratic Party to mount an independent bid for governor, citing frustration with what he called "toxic party politics." He said he had spent more than a year and a half trying to change that dynamic but concluded the current political environment favors Democrats due to President Trump's policies on Iran and trade.
The race now narrows to a direct contest between Benson and James, with the general election set for November. For context on other independent efforts reshaping local politics, see how a 24-year-old independent candidate is aiming to upend Philadelphia's political order. Meanwhile, in other gubernatorial races, the Oregon governor rematch between Kotek and Drazan has been confirmed, and Keisha Lance Bottoms has secured the Democratic nomination in Georgia.
