MICHIGAN — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his independent campaign for governor of Michigan on Thursday, citing national political headwinds boosting Democrats. He said he was suspending his campaign because of an increasingly toxic political climate tied to President Donald Trump's conflict with Iran and rising gas prices.

Duggan launched his independent bid in December 2024, announcing he would pursue the governor's office outside the Democratic Party, where he had previously served as Detroit mayor. He told the Associated Press it would be very hard to win because Democrats who would have supported him were galvanizing against developments in Washington.

"In 60 days there's been a huge change in the attitudes of this country. People are feeling the pain at the pump and are angry about it," he said. He also said, "Democrat anger against Trump and Republicans is extremely high."

On his campaign website, Duggan wrote, "If we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning. If we were behind in the polls and even in fundraising, we have a path. But we're behind in both." He added, "It's just not right to ask our volunteers, faith leaders, unions, elected officials and donors to continue in a campaign that, in my heart, I no longer feel good about our chances to win."

A Detroit Regional Chamber poll of 600 likely general election voters found Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leading at 34%, John James at 29%, and Duggan at 23% in a hypothetical November race. He wrote that the poll showed his campaign had fallen 11 points behind the Democratic candidate, and he lagged Benson in national fundraising. The super PAC Put Progress First spent over $9.8 million on advertising backing his campaign, while his campaign spent over $220,000 on ads this year.

Benson said she welcomes Duggan's ideas, his supporters, and everyone who believes Michigan's future is bigger than division. Benson effectively cleared the Democratic primary earlier this year.

Kollin Crompton, communications director for the Republican Governors Association, said, "Mike Duggan is right on one thing: Democrat leadership is not serving Michiganders. Education is in decline, housing costs are rising, and young people are leaving in droves. Jocelyn Benson represents toxic partisan politics to its core."

Michigan's primary election for governor will be held on August 4, with the general election on November 3. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. No independent candidate has ever served as governor of Michigan.