{"id":2605634,"date":"2026-05-21T17:41:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T21:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-duggan-ends-independent-run-for-michigan-governor\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T17:42:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T21:42:38","slug":"mike-duggan-ends-independent-run-for-michigan-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-duggan-ends-independent-run-for-michigan-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Duggan ends independent run for Michigan governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-duggan-ends-independent-run-for-michigan-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605634&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Mike duggan, the former Detroit mayor running as an self-reliant for Michigan governor, ended his campaign ahead of the Aug. 4 primary. He said that after entering the race in December 2024 as an alternative to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-mexico-congressional-election-poses-early-test-for-democrats\/\" title=\"New Mexico Congressional Election Poses Early Test for Democrats\">major-party candidates<\/a>, conditions changed-especially growing anger and polarization around the Iran war and rising gas prices-which he argued helped Democrats gain an advantage.In his letter to supporters, Duggan pointed to internal and chamber polling that showed Democrats pulling ahead, along with him falling behind in both polling and fundraising, making a viable path to victory unlikely.<\/p>\n<p>At a related press event, he said he would not endorse a primary candidate but may consider endorsing someone during the fall general-election period if they focus on shared priorities such as schools, affordable housing, and jobs. The Michigan GOP criticized his exit as a \u201ccollapse\u201d of an \u201cindependent\u201d rebrand, while Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson responded more warmly, saying she welcomes Duggan\u2019s ideas and supporters.<\/p>\n<p>Duggan previously left the Democratic Party after its weak performance in the 2024 election cycle, and this followed the end of his Detroit mayoral term earlier this year.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/detroit\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1935\">Detroit<\/a> Mayor Mike Duggan ended his independent campaign for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> governor on Thursday ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3249642\/mike-duggan-leaves-democratic-party-run-michigan-governor\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3249642\/mike-duggan-leaves-democratic-party-run-michigan-governor\/\">entering the race<\/a> in December 2024, Duggan pitched himself as a viable alternative to candidates from the two major parties. But a lot has changed since then, particularly on the international stage.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4577884\/ken-martin-releases-dnc-2024-autopsy-pressure-democratic-party\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ken Martin releases DNC\u2019s 2024 autopsy after pressure from within<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4575969\/massie-ousted-georgia-democrats-big-turnout-what-you-missed-primaries\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Massie ousted, Georgia Democrats big turnout, and runoffs set. What you missed from last night\u2019s primaries<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4575306\/trump-burt-jones-rick-jackson-runoff-georgia-gop-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump-backed Burt Jones and Rick Jackson head to Georgia GOP governor runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former Democrat cited growing anger and polarization over the Iran war and rising gas prices as to why he suspended his campaign. In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mikeduggan.com\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/mikeduggan.com\/\">letter to his supporters<\/a>, Duggan explained he didn\u2019t see a chance of winning as an unaffiliated candidate given the Democratic Party\u2019s united outrage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor the public in general, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-top-six-takeaways-from-last-nights-primaries\/\" title=\"The Top Six Takeaways From Last Night&#039;s Primaries\">internal polling showed<\/a> the intense anger over gas prices and Iran was boosting Democrats in every office nationally,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThe Chamber poll last week showing we\u2019d fallen 11 points behind the Democratic candidate reflects that reality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the statewide poll, Duggan was in third place behind Democratic Michigan Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jocelyn-benson\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21323\">Jocelyn Benson<\/a> and Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-james\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5495\">John James<\/a> (R-MI). Both face multiple opponents in their respective primaries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning,\u201d Duggan said in the letter. \u201cIf we were behind in the polls and even in fundraising, we have a path. But we\u2019re behind in both. It\u2019s just not right to ask our volunteers, faith leaders, unions, elected officials and donors to continue in a campaign that, in my heart, I no longer feel good about our chances to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI got into this race to try to change our politics, not to be a spoiler,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m still hopeful our campaign will prove to have a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >real long-term impact<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a press conference related to his campaign announcement, Duggan said he will not endorse a primary candidate. However, he said he may be open to endorsing a candidate in the three months leading up to the general election in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf there are candidates in this state that take up the message of fixing the schools, fixing affordable housing, getting the jobs in the future by working together, I\u2019m going to be open to endorsing them in the fall campaign,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cSo I\u2019m going to be watching, along with a whole lot of my supporters, in the hopes that it proves that the campaign made a lasting difference.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Michigan Republican Party released a critical statement of the former gubernatorial candidate following the news.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4539915\/perry-johnson-john-james-campaign-logo-lawsuit\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4539915\/perry-johnson-john-james-campaign-logo-lawsuit\/\">MICHIGAN GOVERNOR HOPEFUL ACCUSES RIVAL OF TRICKING VOTERS WITH CAMPAIGN LOGO IN LAWSUIT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe exit of Mike Duggan from the governor\u2019s race is no surprise\u2014it\u2019s the inevitable collapse of a poorly disguised charade,\u201d Michigan GOP Chairman and state Sen. Jim Runestad <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MIGOP\/status\/2057514697377661377\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MIGOP\/status\/2057514697377661377\">said<\/a>. \u201cA lifelong Democrat who backed virtually every major Democrat policy and candidate suddenly tried to rebrand as an \u2018independent.\u2019 Michigan voters saw right through it. The polls didn\u2019t lie, and neither did his record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Benson, on the other hand, struck a more accommodating tone, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYmu_63keQl\/\">saying in a statement<\/a> that she \u201cwelcomes Mayor Duggan\u2019s ideas, his supporters, and everyone who believes Michigan\u2019s future is bigger than division.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Duggan left the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"288\">Democratic Party<\/a> to become an independent following the party\u2019s poor performance in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"522\">2024 elections<\/a>. His third term as Detroit\u2019s mayor ended at the start of this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Duggan ends independent Michigan governor bid ahead of Aug. 4 primary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2605635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26141532684622.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[58617,53010,65851],"class_list":["post-2605634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-independent-candidate","tag-michigan-governor","tag-mike-duggan"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26141532684622.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2605634"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2605638,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605634\/revisions\/2605638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2605634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2605634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2605634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}