Written by Tanya Terry
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced on May 21 that he was ending his campaign for governor of Michigan. Duggan, who was running as an independent candidate, is best known for leading Detroit out of the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
But what does his stepping down potentially mean for the Flint community?
Former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver shared her thoughts with The Courier.
“I supported him because I thought he was the best candidate for governor,” stated Weaver. “I had worked with him. We had done some things together when we were both mayors. I saw what he had done in the city of Detroit: a lot of positive things. And so that was why I supported him. I thought he would be a good governor in helping move us forward in the state of Michigan.”
Weaver helped host a Meet & Greet for Duggan, on March 11, at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library.
She shared that she was disappointed that Duggan had ended his gubernatorial campaign because he offered Michigan residents hope that their voices would be heard.
“And that’s what people are looking for.,” Weaver added. “We’re looking for a place for our voices to be heard. And many people feel like that hasn’t taken place because there’s been so much…They just have been so divisive with what’s been going on in the political parties. There are people that feel like the Democratic Party has taken many of its Black voters for granted. They come around when it’s election time. And we’re a strong, loyal voting bloc for Democrats. And, and it’s important to many of us that we feel that we have somebody that’s fighting for us that has our back and isn’t getting caught up in all of the toxicity of the political parties.”
Weaver spoke about Duggan having been running in the race for Michigan governor as an independent candidate.
“I’m sure it’s difficult to run for anything as an independent candidate, but Bernie Sanders has done it quite nicely.”
Weaver noted that it was possible to vote for an independent candidate while still voting a straight ticket, though this required voter education to make people aware of it.
Weaver highlighted Duggan focused heavily on economic development, economic opportunity and education – all being issues important to the Flint community.
But, with Duggan out of the race, Weaver stated that people must decide who best represents them among remaining candidates.
When asked who she would support, Weaver indicated she would back Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson over Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. She cited concerns about Benson’s responsiveness to Flint’s voting system concerns and racial discrimination allegations involving Black female employees.
In July 2025, Benson’s office agreed to pay $775,000 to Angela Harness, a department director who had filed a notice of intent to sue the department. Harness, a Black woman, alleged she was subject to a “racially hostile environment.” A MDOS department spokesperson stated The Michigan Department of State had reached a voluntary separation agreement with the former employee. The Michigan Department of State did not admit to wrongdoing its agreement. They said, instead, the agreement was a way to avoid the cost and time of litigation.
Benson, a Democrat, and U.S. Representative John James, a Republican, are considered the most probable major-party nominees based on multiple polls.
Other candidates include Swanson (D), Kim Thomas formerly of the U.S. Department of Defense (D), Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox (R), Businessman Perry Johnson (R), Michigan State Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R), Longtime Pastor Ralph Rebandt (R) and Anthony Hudson, a Libertarian candidate.
