Mayor Mike Duggan's announcement today that he's running for governor came with an unexpected twist that redefines the entire race — he's running as an independent, not a Democrat. Why it matters: The move allows Duggan to break away from a Democratic Party in crisis mode and build a 2026 campaign focused on his accomplishments running the city for the past decade.

Mike Duggan is shedding the label of his longtime party to seek the state’s highest office, as the term-limited Gretchen Whitmer departs in early 2027.