Former Detroit Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan announced he is suspending his independent campaign for Michigan governor, turning the three-way contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer into a typical partisan race in the blue-trending state.
\nDuggan was a popular mayor of the Motor City who garnered sizable support in his first unsuccessful write-in campaign and forged relationships with key city stakeholders like Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford Jr., an early backer of his gubernatorial bid.
\nAs a former Democrat, conventional wisdom held that his presence hurt Democratic nominee Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, while his moderate positioning was also considered attractive to Republicans who otherwise might support GOP nominee Rep. John James.
\nNBC News reporter Henry Gomez said on X that Democrats had been \u201chitting him almost as hard as John James\u201d and that the move was likely \u201cwelcome news\u201d for the left in the Great Lakes State.
\nSWING STATE GOVERNOR\u2019S RACE GETS CURVEBALL AS TOP DEM RUNS INDEPENDENT, SPARKING CALLS FOR BUTTIGIEG TO ENTER<\/p>\n
\u201cDear Michigan, I\u2019ve decided to suspend my campaign,\u201d Duggan announced via public letter Thursday.
\n\u201cWe knew the independent route was filled with challenge. Even against those odds, the excitement for real change carried this campaign upward for more than a year,\u201d he said.
\nDuggan dismissed claims he was trying to be a \u201cspoiler\u201d for either side and instead aimed to change the tenor of national politics.
\n\u201cI\u2019m still hopeful our campaign will prove to have a real long-term impact,\u201d Duggan said.
\n\u201cI will never be able to express the gratitude I feel for all your support and encouragement. I wish I could have done better for you.\u201d
\nWhen he announced his run, Duggan pointed to his family history and his own political evolution as evidence a change is needed in government.
\nMICHIGAN DEMOCRAT QUITS POLITICS, SAYS PARTY\u2019S AGENDA BETRAYED HER FAITH
\nHe told BridgeDetroit his late father supported former President Ronald Reagan but wouldn\u2019t recognize the Trump-led GOP \u2014 while Duggan himself admitted the Democratic Party he once knew to be an ally of the working class is sliding in that regard.<\/p>\n
In one such instance, Democrats piled on Duggan for referring to people illicitly present in America as \u201cillegal immigrants\u201d instead of \u201cundocumented.\u201d
\n\u201cIf there was ever a time to give people a third choice, this would be the year,\u201d he told the outlet.
\nBenson told Fox News Digital in a statement that Duggan brought civility to a body politic greatly needing it.
\n\u201cI want to thank Mayor Mike Duggan for what he brought to this race and for his years of service to Detroit,\u201d she said, noting how divided politics has become.
\n\u201cI welcome Mayor Duggan\u2019s ideas, his supporters, and everyone who believes Michigan\u2019s future is bigger than division \u2014 and that it can be a place where anyone can afford to live, work, and thrive.\u201d
\nREPUBLICANS HAVE CHANCE TO SECURE GOVERNORSHIPS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES NEXT YEAR
\n\u201cWe may not always agree on everything, but we share a commitment to building a stronger Michigan. And that work continues in this campaign,\u201d Benson concluded.
\nFox News Digital also reached out to James\u2019 campaign.
\nIn a statement on social media, the Republican said he wanted to thank Duggan for years of service to Michigan and its largest city.<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect anyone willing to step into the arena and serve something bigger than themselves. While we have real disagreements on policy, we both recognize Michigan is headed in the wrong direction,\u201d he said, opening the door to working with the former Democrat if he so desired.
\n\u201cOur state has endured too much decline and political dysfunction. I\u2019m ready to work with anyone willing to deliver real solutions, reject the politics of division, and fight for safer communities, stronger families and economic growth \u2014 our state\u2019s future is too important for anything less.\u201d
\nWhile Trump narrowly won Michigan in breaking the proverbial \u201cblue wall\u201d for the second time in three attempts in 2024, the state has reliably chosen Democrats in other statewide races, including Whitmer, Sen. Elissa Slotkin \u2014 who won former Sen. Debbie Stabenow\u2019s open seat in 2024 \u2014 and the state\u2019s other upper-chamber incumbent, retiring Sen. Gary Peters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"