Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is set to reveal his plans for his political future next week, an announcement that is expected to trigger a wave of political activity.
The third-term mayor has not yet hinted about his next move, but many political observers are speculating that the Democrat plans to run for governor in 2026. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is also a Democrat, is term-limited and can’t run for reelection.
If Duggan decides not to run for a fourth term, the field of mayoral candidates is expected to be big. Among those who have already announced their intentions to run for mayor are City Council President Mary Sheffield, City Councilman Fred Durhall III, former Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, and ex-businessman Joel Haashiim.
Without Duggan as a contender, the 2025 election would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Detroit politics. Duggan, a former CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, former Wayne County prosecutor and a longtime lieutenant of late County Executive Ed McNamara, has held the position since January 2014 and helped guide the city out of municipal bankruptcy.
The first white mayor since Roman Gribbs left office in 1973, Duggan has been steadily popular among many Detroiters and is credited with streamlining and improving government services. He has been an outspoken booster of downtown and was key to bringing the Detroit Pistons from the suburbs to the city.
But he has not been without his critics, who have accused Duggan of prioritizing commercial development downtown over struggling residents in floundering neighborhoods. Under his watch, more than $1 billion intended for Detroit’s schools, libraries, and city services has been diverted to pay for real estate projects that benefit wealthy investors, Metro Times previously reported.
Duggan’s massive demolition program was the subject of a years-long federal investigation, and many civil rights leaders have criticized him for supporting ubiquitous police surveillance, such as facial recognition technology, that has disproportionately impacted Black residents.
Despite his critics, Duggan handily won all three elections and built a formidable and unprecedented campaign war chest for a Detroit mayoral candidate.
If Duggan decides to run for governor, his popularity and campaign prowess will make it difficult for other Democratic candidates and could inspire a smaller field.
Or Duggan could opt to take a break from political life and spend more time with his second wife, Sonia Hassan, whom he married in 2021.
Whatever happens, Duggan’s announcement next week will not only signal his personal ambitions but also could set the stage for a new political era in Detroit or even Michigan as a whole. Whether he chooses to seek higher office or step away from public service, his decision is poised to reshape the political playing field, influencing candidates, policies, and the direction of leadership for years to come.
