MICHIGAN — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced he will run as an Independent for Michigan Governor in 2026. The three-term mayor made the announcement just weeks after the 2024 election wrapped up.
Duggan, in a video announcement, stated, “I’m not running to be the Democrats’ governor or the Republicans’ governor. I’m running to be your governor.” Despite being a longtime Democrat, Duggan ran in three mayoral races that were considered non-partisan.
Democratic Secretary of State, on a Michigan-based political talk show, called out Duggan’s decision without mentioning him by name, “In moments like this, we don’t flee from the party, but we stay and fix it. We need to be firefighters, putting out fires, not running away from things that we see may be on fire.”
Mayor Pete for Governor?
Current Secretary of Transportation and former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg is seen as considering a run for governor. Mayor Pete and his husband own a home in Traverse City.
“I haven’t made any decisions about, big decisions about my future. And I know that we’ve got six more weeks and we’re going to sprint through the tape,” Buttigieg told reporters.
With nearly two years until the 2026 election, the list of names considering and ultimately running for Governor is expected to grow significantly.
