Polling Average
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27.1%
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$135.9K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Current roleGovernor
PartyIndependent
Political ideologyCentrist Independent
Age67 years old (Jul 15, 1958)
GenderMale
LocationMichigan
BackgroundLawyer
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA, 1980)
Notable personal detailsMichael Edward Duggan is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 75th mayor of Detroit from 2014 to 2026, after earlier roles including Wayne County Prosecutor (2001–2004) and deputy Wayne County executive (1987–2001). He previously led the Detroit Medical Center as president and CEO (beginning in 2004). A longtime Democrat, he became an independent in 2024 and is a candidate in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election.
Mike Duggan has proposed property tax reform that would reduce property taxes for most homeowners and many businesses while increasing taxes on vacant, blighted, or underused land and certain commercial parcels; he has used city budget surpluses to propose modest property tax cuts and framed the changes as promoting development and fiscal balance. His Land Value Tax plan shifts taxation from structures to land to incentivize productive use and hold land speculators accountable, while preserving a balanced municipal budget.
Mike Duggan has defended Medicaid work-requirements and described recent proposed Medicaid reductions as "not as bad as they look," while saying effective state implementation could mitigate harms. His campaign materials emphasize pragmatic governance but do not advocate for Medicare for All or large public-coverage expansions.
The candidate has described Detroit as a welcoming city and supported refugee resettlement and services for immigrants, while more recently stating that Detroit is not a sanctuary city and affirming cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Public statements and reporting show both pro-immigrant local initiatives and explicit support for working with ICE, producing mixed signals on a clear policy direction for immigration enforcement or limits on federal action.
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Supports transitioning Detroit to clean energy through city-led programs including large-scale solar installations to power municipal buildings, creation and staffing of an Office of Sustainability, and a published Detroit Climate Strategy prioritizing clean energy, efficiency, electrification, and resilience. Emphasizes investment in renewable projects, tree-planting and local resilience measures while pursuing market- and grant-enabled financing (e.g., citing federal IRA incentives) rather than explicitly calling for Green New Deal–style federal phase-outs of fossil fuels.
As mayor, Mike Duggan has emphasized strengthening policing, expanding technology (ShotSpotter, metal detectors, cameras) and hiring more officers to reduce gun violence while also backing community violence-intervention programs. He has expressed support for Michigan’s red-flag-style no-gun orders but said formal gun-free zones have limited effectiveness. Overall his actions combine support for strengthened law enforcement and targeted gun-safety measures rather than a single clear stance for broad new gun restrictions or for unfettered gun rights.
Mike Duggan is running for Michigan governor as an independent, pitching a centrist campaign focused on economic development, education reform, and affordable housing. Recent polling shows him in a competitive three-way race with Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James, including one survey that put all three in a tie and showed Duggan gaining support in Metro Detroit. Other polling is less favorable for him, with one poll placing him at 20% and Benson’s campaign saying she leads him by a wide margin.
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.