Duggan nets gubernatorial endorsement from Detroit Regional Chamber
Detroit's powerful regional business organization has thrown its weight behind Mike Duggan's independent bid to be the next governor of Michigan.
The Detroit Regional Chamber PAC on Thursday announced that it was endorsing Duggan in the 2026 gubernatorial election. The decision was unanimously reached with a quorum of political action committee members present, the chamber said in a news release.
Duggan got the endorsement, the chamber said, because of his proven track record of executive-level business experience prior to his time as mayor, primarily as the leader of the Detroit Medical Center. Duggan was also once on the Detroit Regional Chamber's Board of Directors.
'The Chamber and businesses across the state are growing increasingly concerned about the inability of our political parties to find common ground and move Michigan forward,' Sandy Baruah, Chamber president and CEO, said in a statement. 'Throughout his business and government career, Mike Duggan has proven he can bring people together to work toward common goals. Voters across Michigan are tired of the political infighting; they are clamoring for results-driven leadership, which is exactly what Mike has brought to every leadership position he's held.'
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That success, the chamber noted, extended to his time as mayor, which has helped Detroit experience revitalization and become a national model for renewal. Detroit's population is growing, the chamber said, and that was thanks to Duggan's leadership.
'Mayor Duggan's tenure in Detroit has been a case study in effective, consistent leadership,' David Foltyn, chairman of the Chamber PAC and the Honigman law firm's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. 'He has demonstrated a unique ability to bring stakeholders together to solve generational challenges. The business community has full confidence that he will bring that same steady hand and relentless focus on results to Lansing, creating the stable, pro-growth environment Michigan needs to compete on a global scale.'
A news release issued by the chamber also noted that it was the first business organization to endorse Duggan during his 2013 mayoral write-in campaign, and supported him in his subsequent reelection bids.
The chamber has a history of endorsing candidates from both major parties, having endorsed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, in both her 2018 gubernatorial campaign and her 2022 re-election bid, as well former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in his 2014 reelection campaign.
However, the organization declined to make an endorsement in the 2024 U.S. Senate race, saying its board could not reach a consensus on whether to support former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) or then-U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly). Slotkin ended up winning the election.
Duggan as independent will face whomever is nominated by the respective major political parties, who won't be decided until the August 2026 primary. That has given Duggan somewhat of an early opportunity to run a general election-style race early in the cycle.
On the Democratic side, Duggan could face Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson or former Cape Coral, Fla., Mayor Marni Sawicki
On the Republican side, the Detroit mayor could face U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Portage, former Attorney General Mike Cox, former House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt, Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson and Traverse City native Evan Space.
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