Read Mike Duggan’s full message ‘to Michigan’ below:

May 21, 2026

Mike Duggan, an Independent candidate for Michigan Governor, announced he is ending his campaign after 18 months due to deteriorating political conditions and fundraising challenges. His decision stems from falling poll numbers—now trailing the Democratic candidate by 11 points—driven by national anger over rising gas prices and an ongoing conflict in Iran that has boosted Democratic prospects across all races. While his campaign successfully secured union endorsements and strong in-state financial support, with 94% of donors from Michigan, he was unable to build the national fundraising network necessary to compete with major party resources.

Who is affected

Mike Duggan (the Independent gubernatorial candidate)
Hundreds of campaign volunteers
Union members and union organizations that endorsed Duggan
Faith leaders who supported the campaign
Elected officials who backed Duggan
Campaign donors (particularly Michigan-based donors who comprised 94% of contributions)
Over 1.6 million Michigan voters (representing the 23% who supported an Independent candidate)
Democrat, Republican, and Independent voters who participated in town halls
The Democratic and Republican candidates remaining in the race

What action is being taken

Duggan is ending/suspending his gubernatorial campaign
Duggan is writing a letter to supporters announcing his withdrawal

Why it matters

This matters because over 1.6 million Michigan voters (23% in recent polling) were seeking an alternative to traditional partisan politics to address declining schools, rising housing costs, and youth out-migration from the state. The campaign's end demonstrates the structural challenges Independent candidates face in modern elections, where success requires both competitive polling numbers and access to national party fundraising networks. Duggan's withdrawal also reflects how national events—such as foreign conflicts and economic issues like gas prices—can dramatically reshape state-level races by creating partisan waves that overwhelm local concerns and independent movements.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com