MI-GOV: Republican megadonors are bankrolling Mike Duggan's independent Michigan gubernatorial race [View all]
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has been receiving and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Republican donors and dark money in his independent gubernatorial bid, despite him saying he wants to avoid partisanship.
Duggan has served as Detroits mayor since 2014 and has been a member of the Democratic Party for his entire political career until recently. Last November, Duggan announced he would not seek a fourth term as mayor, joining the gubernatorial race as an independent candidate instead.
Last month, Bridge Michigan reported on Duggans updated financial disclosure reports, which showed him leading all candidates in individual contributions with $3.2 million raised. Detroit Metro Times also pointed to the unusual amount of money Duggan is drawing from Republican donors, who have also contributed to GOP candidates in the same race.
A Heartland Signal analysis of the financial disclosures found that over $200,000 of Duggans donations came from donors who also contributed to one or more of the Republican candidates in the race. Some of these donors include former Michigan Republican Party Chair Ronald Weiser, GOP megadonor JC Huizenga and former Michigan GOP co-chair Jeff Sakwa, who all gave Duggan the maximum $8,325 individual contribution.
https://heartlandsignal.com/2025/08/15/republican-megadonors-are-bankrolling-mike-duggans-independent-michigan-gubernatorial-race/