Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s independent gubernatorial campaign is going all in on finding middle ground.
While the city’s outgoing three-term mayor received the endorsement from business leaders at the Detroit Regional Chamber PAC, Duggan says he’s not turning his back on the various labor groups who have already endorsed him.
“You say they have competing goals, but when Dan Gilbert builds buildings, it’s good for the building trades and for everyone looking for a job,” Duggan said in an interview with Michigan Chronicle. “Everyone assumes business has to fight labor, the environmental group has to fight the business group — in most cases the right answer is two sides working together on middle ground.”
The chamber said it typically would wait to drop their endorsement until the general election, which isn’t until November, 2026.
“This year, though, chamber leaders said they couldn’t wait,” the group said.
“The chamber and businesses across the state are growing increasingly concerned about the inability of our political parties to find common ground and move Michigan forward,” Chamber president Sandy K. Baruah said in a statement. “Throughout his business and government career, Mike Duggan has proven he can bring people together to work toward common goals. Voters across Michigan are tired of the political infighting; they are clamoring for results-driven leadership, which is exactly what Mike has brought to every leadership position he’s held.”
The chamber said the decision to endorse Duggan was unanimous. The PAC was the first organization to endorse Duggan on his write-in campaign for mayor in 2013, and members cited his tenure as mayor as the reason for their endorsement for his bid for governor.
“Mayor Duggan’s tenure in Detroit has been a case study in effective, consistent leadership,” PAC charirman David Foltyn said in a statement. “He has demonstrated a unique ability to bring stakeholders together to solve generational challenges. The business community has full confidence that he will bring that same steady hand and relentless focus on results to Lansing, creating the stable, pro-growth environment Michigan needs to compete on a global scale.”
Duggan in an interview last week told Michigan Chronicle both sides are realizing spending big money to win elections isn’t improving the conditions of Michigan residents. He noted the partisan swings that happen every eight years in the state halt continuity and makes it harder for the state to get ahead as rules on school curriculum and economic development.
“What I’ve done in Detroit is build coalitions,” Duggan said. “All the years where Democrats ran on attacking business and the Republicans ran attacking unions — it’s time to put that behind us.”
Duggan has been endorsed by the Carpenters and Millwrights Association, Detroit Plumbers Local 98, Unite Here Local 24, Detroit Fire Fighters Association Local 344, plus other labor groups.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are running for governor as Democrats. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. John James, former Attorney General Tom Leonard and former Attorney General Mike Cox, have announced campaigns.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term limited.
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