(Detroit) – The Michigan Teamsters Joint Council 43, whose membership includes 265,000 active/retirees, yesterday endorsed Independent candidate for Governor Mike Duggan in the largest endorsement of the 2026 election cycle.

“Seeing the City of Detroit, the turn around, with labor and with business, the community, seeing Detroit revitalized – the hotels, the restaurants, the police force making sure the city is safe, the City of Detroit is on the move, on the rise, thanks to Mike Duggan,” said Kevin Moore, President, Michigan Teamsters Joint Council #43. “Here in America, neither party wants to work together, but I know one guy that will: Mike Duggan. Mike Duggan will work with any party or no party to get work done. He wants to work for every single person in Michigan – and you can count on it. He has values and trust in his word. Mike Duggan has an honor code, and he will work great with labor and business. He’s going to change the dynamics of Michigan.”

Michigan Teamsters Joint Council 43 represents workers in transportation, warehouse, manufacturing, construction, carhaul, freight, bakery and laundry, industrial, package delivery, moving companies, solid waste and recycling, building materials and construction trades, tankhaul, casinos, newspapers, beer and wine distribution, school employees as well as diverse public sector jobs.

“Earning the endorsement of teamsters across the State of Michigan is such an honor. Teamsters built Michigan, and rebuilt Detroit. They’re hard workers who know who to trust, and I am proud to have earned their endorsement,” said Duggan. “The strength of this endorsement cannot be understated: this represents the backbone of our state. When I am elected governor, I will proudly work with labor and business to end the dysfunction in Lansing and move Michigan forward.”  

Duggan is the first Independent candidate the Teamsters Joint Council 43 has endorsed for Governor. The Joint Council previously endorsed Governor Whitmer in her runs for Governor in 2018 and 2022.

Duggan has racked up endorsements from business, labor, statewide and local officials alike. On August 19, 2025, Duggan received endorsement from more than 200 local officials of all stripes–Democrat, Republican and Independent. In addition, Duggan outraised every candidate in the race – setting a new record and making it clear that people who live in Michigan and have the most stake in the state’s future are demanding a change.

See below for the letter from Michigan Teamsters Joint Council No. 43.