Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his independent campaign for Michigan governor Thursday, citing a lack of fundraising support and a political tide turning sharply toward Democrats.
Duggan's exit reshapes the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race and clears the lane for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who now faces no serious Democratic primary opposition.
The Decision
Duggan announced his withdrawal in an open letter to supporters. He said internal polling showed his campaign had fallen 11 points behind the Democratic candidate in a recent Chamber poll.
"I am so disappointed to have to write you this letter. For the last 18 months I've worked every day to try to change Michigan's toxic party politics," Duggan wrote.
Duggan said his campaign could not build the national fundraising network needed to compete. He noted that 94 percent of his donors came from Michigan and that national independent fundraising groups remain too new to provide meaningful support.
"Being down 11 points in May wouldn't discourage me. I've been down worse than that in the past. But this time it's compounded by our inability to build serious national fundraising support," Duggan said.
The former mayor credited rising gas prices and Democratic momentum tied to national issues as factors that squeezed his independent bid.
Benson Emerges as Democratic Frontrunner
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's Secretary of State, was the immediate beneficiary of Duggan's departure. Her campaign headquarters celebrated the news, according to Lansing City Pulse.
Benson issued a statement welcoming Duggan's supporters into the Democratic coalition.
"I want to thank Mayor Mike Duggan for what he brought to this race and for his years of service to Detroit. At a time when politics can feel divided and cynical, we need more civility, more listening, and more people willing to work together to move our state forward," Benson said.
Curtis Hertel, Michigan Democratic Party Chair, also welcomed Duggan back into the fold. Hertel had publicly criticized Duggan throughout his independent run.
"We're grateful to Mayor Mike Duggan for his service to the city of Detroit and our entire state. While we've had disagreements, the Mayor brought crucial ideas to this race and we appreciate his commitment to bringing people together," Hertel said.
Republicans Face a Harder Path
Republicans acknowledged the damage. Jim Runestad, Michigan Republican Party Chair, called Duggan a "lifelong Democrat masquerading as an independent."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson had previously outlined a strategy that relied on splitting the Democratic vote between Duggan and Benson. Johnson has made no public statement since Duggan's exit.
John James, the other Republican gubernatorial candidate, immediately offered to debate Benson on Mackinac Island during the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference. Benson declined.
Duggan Remains at Mackinac
Despite ending his campaign, Duggan remained engaged at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Wednesday. He appeared on a panel organized by the Detroit Regional Chamber, where he emphasized his original goal of reducing partisan division.
"My whole life has been about facing reality as it is, not as you wish it to be," Duggan said at the conference. "I started off in December of '24. I looked at pretty much all of those numbers that this state had been declining for decades as Republicans and Democrats switched back and forth."
Duggan said his campaign polled at 23 percent support in its final survey, representing roughly 1.6 million Michigan voters.
"I got into this race to try to change our politics, not to be a spoiler," Duggan wrote. "I'm still hopeful our campaign will prove to have a real long-term impact."
What Comes Next
The Michigan primary is scheduled for August 4. The general election is November 3.
With Duggan out, the race returns to a two-party contest. Benson holds a commanding position in the Democratic field. Republicans must now navigate a primary between James and Johnson while facing a unified Democratic opponent in the fall.
Duggan's campaign showed that independent candidates in Michigan still face steep structural hurdles. The state's election laws, party fundraising networks, and voter habits favor the two major parties. Duggan acknowledged that reality in his exit letter.
"If we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning. If we were behind in the polls and even in fundraising, we have a path. But we're behind in both. It's 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."