Knives out: Benson, Duggan fire opening shots in Michigan governor’s race

Duggan and Benson trade subliminals over Democratic Party values as the rest of us look up and watch

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Photos by Sam Robinson

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan told reporters yesterday he’ll treat Democrats taking shots on social media as candidates, but his nameless comment seemed to target just one.

Neither named names, but Duggan and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who lives in Detroit, fired shots Wednesday after the mayor announced he would leave the Democratic Party to run for governor as an independent.

Immediately after Duggan’s announcement, Benson — without naming Duggan — posted that she was “proud to be a Democrat,” on social media.

When asked where Democrats should go from here, Duggan said he would no longer be answering for Democrats: “I’m no longer going to answer that question, but you’ve got some who are already tweeting criticisms of me, so, I’m gathering they’re candidates you should go ask them.”

They aren't strangers

Benson, should she launch a bid for governor, could run a formidable campaign and raise money from across the country. She’ll be able to tout major accomplishments including minimizing wait times at secretary of state branches and increasing access to vote across Michigan.

Both politicians have been indirectly connected over the years through Benson’s husband, Ryan Friedrichs, the vice president of Related Companies (the Stephen Ross company partnering with Ilitch’s Olympia Development on U of M’s Center of Innovation) who was a previous Duggan appointee.