REGISTERED VOTERS IN MICHIGAN ONLY

An Open Letter to Mike Duggan, Independent Candidate for Governor of Michigan

Dear Mr. Duggan:

As concerned citizens and engaged voters of the State of Michigan, we write to you with deep respect for your years of public service and your evident dedication to the people of our state. We recognize your leadership and the positive impact you have had during your tenure as Mayor of Detroit.

However, we feel compelled to express our grave concerns about your decision to run as an independent candidate for Governor in the upcoming election. At a time when the very fabric of our democracy is being tested nationally—when many Republican leaders appear increasingly comfortable embracing autocratic tendencies, undermining voting rights, and threatening democratic institutions—we believe unity among those who defend democracy is not just preferable but essential.

Michigan has been a critical battleground in the defense of democratic values. Democratic leadership in our state has helped protect reproductive freedom, voting rights, public education, and the rule of law. Your decision to run as an independent risks splitting the moderate and progressive vote, thereby increasing the likelihood of a Republican victory—one that could roll back hard-won progress and align our state with the extreme policies and anti-democratic forces threatening the nation.

If your candidacy is truly rooted in a desire to serve the people of Michigan, we urge you to either pursue the Democratic nomination through an open and fair primary process or reconsider your campaign altogether. An independent run at this critical moment undermines the very goals we believe you share: protecting democracy, safeguarding civil rights, and ensuring competent, compassionate governance.

We acknowledge your right to run and your commitment to public service. But this election is not just about policy—it is about preserving the democratic system itself. The stakes could not be higher.

We respectfully call on you to reflect deeply on the broader consequences of your candidacy and to act in a way that unites, rather than divides, those who seek to move Michigan—and the nation—forward.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned Citizens of Michigan

[Drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT]