Detroit (AP) – The Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, spent his political career as a democrat and led Michigan’s greatest democratic stronghold.
But now he has become the goal of his former party, whose leader are incensed because of his decision to run next year as independence for the governor of Michigan. Detroit is a power base for Democrats in the battlefield state, and some fear that Duggan will operate support from her candidate and may lend a hand the Republican candidate.
Democrats started attacks against Duggan and accused him of being bankroll by allies of President Donald Trump. But Duggan, who soon leaves the office that he has been holding since 2014, says that voters of all tendencies are fed up with the partisan battles.
“It doesn’t matter where I go to the state,” said Duggan. “People are angry that their problems are not solved because the two parties are consumed in such a way.”
Duggan was a great democratic personality in Michigan with close cooperation with former President Joe Biden. While there are precedent for independent governors in the United States, none is currently in office and there has never been one in Michigan.
Duggan recently spoke to the Associated Press about his candidacy, why he was not running as a democrat and his positions on significant questions.
Why run as an independent?
Duggan said the voters were fed up with partisan policy and want an option outside the two-party system.
He announced his offer one month after the 2024 election after the Democrats had suffered stern losses in the 2024 elections. In the medium -term elections, however, tends not to prefer the party in power. Democrats have now confiscated cuts against Medicaid and Snap advantages as profit problems in races across the country.
Duggan doesn’t see it that way.
“I think it would have been easier to win Democrat, but then I would only have been part of the partisan problem,” said Duggan.
As an example, Duggan referred to the shared legislator of Michigan, whereby the Republicans controlled control over the state house and the Democrats that controlled the Senate. This year only six suggestions have been right, and the state budget is still hung.
Duggan’s campaign focused on his independence from parties and education in the state. Duggan mocked Michigan House Democrats, who voted against a measure to restrict the operate of the cell phone in schools.
“I don’t really intend to participate in the national Republican compared to democratic topics,” he said.
Customs in Detroit and abroad
Several companies in the automotive industry in Michigan, which concentrate in Detroit, have reported stern losses and commented on the tariffs imposed by the Trump management. Auto parts often move several times across the border between the USA and Canada during production.
Duggan said the tariffs in China and Mexico could drive the production to Michigan. However, the tariffs in Canada are “devastating,” he said.
“If you set Canada a tariff, you have a tariff,” he said.
He also criticized the constantly changing nature of Trump’s tariff policy and said that they prevent companies from making educated, long -term investments.
President Trump
Duggan praised the current democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer for her work with the Trump administration, contradicted the tariffs on Canada and worked with him to get modern fighter planes for an airwood base. Some Democrats have criticized Whitmer that they have been published several times this year with Trump.
“I think it’s exactly the right kind of approach,” he said.
Elon Muschus
Democrats in Michigan have often bound Duggan to Elon Musk; An attempt to undercut Duggan by working with the split public figure.
Musk, a former Trump ally, said in July that he would create a third political party. When Duggan answered Musk to X, he said: “Now you have my attention,” said the Democratic Party in Michigan, the mayor was “cozy” to the richest man in the world.
When asked about Exchange, Duggan said that his offer was “exactly the opposite” of a third party and said that he did not want a part of one. He would not be responsible as independence, he said.
“I will work with the work that wins to build bridges,” he said.
Arab -American voters
In Michigan there is one of the largest population groups of the Arabian American voters in the United States, many of whom are disillusioned by the two political parties about the military offensive of Israel in Gaza, which has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis.
“The governor does not make politics away 6,000 miles,” said Duggan. “The governor has a lot to say about the tone of hate speeches and threats for individuals – be it the Jewish community, the Arab community – in the state of Michigan.”
Who is still in the race?
Whitmer is narrow and cannot be executed for re -election.
The overcrowded field that can replace it comprises three Democrats – Foreign Minister Jocelyn Benson, Lt. -Gouvener Garlin Gilchrist II and Sheriff Chris Swanson, and four Republicans – Rep. John James, Senate the Senate Guide Aric Nesbitt, former Attorney General Mike Cox, and former spokesman for the state, Tom Leonard.
As an independent, Duggan had the democratic elementary school avoided, but gave access to the party’s resources.
In Detroit and in the surrounding areas, he is known, but he largely lacks the nationwide name recognition.
The recent number of donations showed that Duggan was competitive with Benson, James and Nesbitt. Only Benson’s campaign brought more than Duggans of 1.1 million US dollars that she had broadcast from her Minister of Campaign. However, national democratic groups certainly have the prioritization of the Michigan race and pour money if necessary.
“Many people in the state are fed up with making a two party system,” said Duggan. “And it will not change by choosing another Republican or Democrat.”
