DETROIT — Now that his third term as Mayor of Detroit is complete, Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan is taking a results-driven message statewide.
“The real campaign starts today. While the Democrats and Republicans will give their partisan talking points at political party meetings, I’ll be having conversations with folks who aren’t part of the dwindling number of people who trust political parties. People across Michigan are tired of their lives playing second fiddle to political games,” Duggan said. “They want problems solved. They want the government to work. And more and more, they’re choosing independence over dysfunction.”
Duggan will be visiting dozens of Michigan cities over the next few weeks as he continues building a statewide coalition focused on results, not partisan politics. The stops will include Mike Drops, his in-person question and answer sessions, as well as meeting with community, labor and business leaders across Michigan.
“Leadership starts with showing up and listening. When you spend time in communities, not just during campaigns but consistently, you hear the truth,” said Duggan. “Over the last year, I’ve been in Chambers of Commerce and Union Halls, no note cards or talking points, no pre-written questions, just real people and real problems we need to solve. That’s how you make better decisions and deliver results people can actually feel. Today marks the beginning of the end of politics as we know it – voters have a real third option.”
Over the coming weeks, Duggan will travel to communities across the state, meeting with residents, small business owners, workers, educators, and local leaders to talk about health care affordability, education, public safety, and restoring accountability to government. Stops will span every region of Michigan, from large cities to small towns that often feel overlooked by Lansing politics.
Duggan said the tour reflects what he’s heard over the past year: growing frustration with both political parties and a desire for leadership that puts outcomes ahead of ideology.
“The Democratic Party has become more focused on politics than policy. The Republican Party isn’t offering real solutions either. I’m ready to work for the people, not political parties,” Duggan said. “Political independents are now the fastest-growing group of voters in Michigan, and 2026 is the year they make their voices heard.”
As Mayor of Detroit, Duggan worked with Democrats and Republicans to lead the city out of bankruptcy, reduce crime, rebuild neighborhoods, and expand access to health care. He says that same approach, pragmatic, bipartisan, and focused on results, is exactly what Michigan needs now.
“This campaign isn’t about left versus right,” Duggan said. “It’s about getting back to the basics of what government should do. If you’re willing to work with anyone to get results for people, you belong on my team.”
