Mike Duggan for Michigan governor? New nonprofit takes Detroit story statewide

A nonprofit organization formed to position Mayor Mike Duggan as a statewide leader could hint toward the longtime Detroit leader’s political future, pundits say.

Duggan is widely considered a likely candidate for Michigan governor in 2026, though he has repeatedly fended off questions about his plans. Duggan, whose third term as mayor will end in 2025, said he will make an announcement after the November presidential election.

Put Progress First was incorporated as a Michigan nonprofit in June 2023 by W. Alan Wilk, an attorney who worked on Duggan’s past mayoral campaigns. The nonprofit has a website and social media pages highlighting Duggan’s efforts, in some cases echoing talking points used by the mayor. 

“Under Mayor Mike Duggan’s leadership, Detroit has taken incredible steps to become a safer, more affordable, more sustainable city,” the website reads. “Michigan needs more leaders to take bold steps to implement these important policies in their communities.”

Put Progress First spokesman Mark Fisk, a partner of Byrum & Fisk law firm and a previous campaign spokesman for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, said the group plans to uplift leaders that rise “above the political rancor” and work to solve pressing state issues. 

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“Put Progress First is a new nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting leaders and initiatives that fight climate change, promote affordable housing and clean energy, and improve the quality of life for people across Michigan,” Fisk said in a statement. “Our goal is to highlight some of the tangible results of the Detroit turnaround and the leadership of people like Mayor Duggan as an example of how individuals and groups can work together to find creative solutions to challenging problems.”

Duggan declined to comment on his relationship with the group. Longtime Detroit political operative Adolph Mongo said the nonprofit’s formation is a telltale sign that his name is being floated as a gubernatorial candidate.

“He’s playing chess right now, he’s got two or three moves in advance,” said Mongo, who has alternated between a Duggan political ally and opponent over their respective long careers.

“(Duggan) has proven in the past that he’s very organized, that’s why he got elected as a write-in (in the 2013 primary). People still say, ‘oh, how could he do that?’ Well he had money, he had organizations. Now he has money and an organization.”

Tax-exempt “social welfare organizations” like Put Progress First can accept unlimited contributions from donors who are then shielded from public disclosure, providing a quiet way to fundraise for political candidates. Nonprofits are not allowed to endorse specific candidates for elected offices, but they can advocate for certain issues. 

“You can’t say ‘endorse or vote for,’” said Ed Sarpolus, executive director of Target Insyght polling firm. “You can educate people, but that’s all you can do. (Duggan) has always had groups like this. You can tell he’s considering doing something.”

A page labeled “our advocacy” on Put Progress First’s website credited Duggan’s efforts to invest in affordable housing, improve public safety and “lead the fight against climate change.” Social media pages with a small following have steadily posted pro-Duggan content this year. 

The organization also collected signatures urging the City Council to support Duggan’s plan to install solar energy fields in six neighborhoods, using home buyouts and eminent domain lawsuits to acquire the land. 

The statewide scope of Put Progress First and its focus on affordable housing and climate sustainability is another tip-off for observers like Chris DeWitt, a political consultant and president of information watchdog FOIA Services Michigan.

“If you’re going to be running in a Democratic primary, those would be some good issues to be promoted,” DeWitt said. “Mike Duggan is one of the smartest political folks I’ve ever run across. I don’t know what his plans are, but this could be a useful tool for money to be donated to help promote the Duggan cause.” 

Telling Duggan’s story

Duggan has confessed a natural inclination to politics, telling reporters that he listened to strategy sessions at age seven when his father was campaigning for Wayne County judge. He’s since cultivated a reputation for political savvy, brash leadership and organizing might. 

Duggan is a former Wayne County prosecutor, deputy county executive, former CEO of Detroit Medical Center and former Livonia resident who ran for mayor in 2013 after moving back to the city he grew up in.

As mayor, Duggan has been metrics-oriented. His administration holds regular celebrations to recognize hitting milestones for new streetlights, fire hydrants and affordable housing units, demolished buildings, cleared-out alleys and other targets. 

Early supporters like Rev. Jim Holley, former Police Chief Ike McKinnon and activist Malik Shabazz pitched Duggan as a crisis manager. A decade after taking office, Duggan argues he’s made significant progress to stabilize the city and take neighborhoods “from blight to beauty.”

Mongo said Duggan has to spread that message across the state if he wants to run for governor. 

“He’s going to have to work hard at the western part of Michigan; they don’t look too kindly upon what’s happening in Southeast Michigan because they feel they get the shaft a lot,” Mongo said. “He’s gonna have to take his show on the road and fight to get recognition from those naysayers.” 

Duggan’s association with Detroit comes with advantages and disadvantages, DeWitt said. 

“A lot of people outside of Southeast Michigan, or for that matter even outside of Eight Mile, don’t necessarily have the best impression of Detroit,” he said. “Duggan’s record is very strong, and there are a lot of positives that he can claim responsibility for. 

“Not that many years ago, the thought of a mayor of Detroit running for a statewide office was almost laughable. That has changed pretty dramatically but it helps to have a vehicle to promote what is going on in Detroit.” 

Put Progress First has a similar numeric focus on what’s been achieved under Duggan. The website boasts 160 parks renovated, 170 new small businesses, 200 new police officers and 250 acres of land committed to solar farms. 

Language on the website often aligns with Duggan’s talking points, like historically low violent crime and $1.7 billion increase in property values for homeowners this year. Both argue that $1 billion invested in 71 housing projects by public and private groups has reduced homelessness.

An annual count conducted by local organizations is used by the federal government to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness. Detroit’s count includes the cities of Hamtramck and Highland Park. The 2024 count found 1,725 people experiencing homelessness, up 16% from the previous year and the most since 2019.

The website predicts the Detroit Land Bank Authority will sell off its inventory of houses by the end of the year, which Duggan also forecast in speeches. Put Progress First is highlighting job training and “ShotStoppers” community violence intervention programs Duggan created with federal pandemic aid. 

Social media pages formed by Put Progress First have a small following. An Instagram page with under 50 followers includes news coverage of Duggan alongside content focused on climate change. 

The first post raised news coverage of Duggan’s land value tax plan, which hit a wall after state lawmakers declined to pass authorizing legislation. A campaign style video posted to YouTube in May promoted Duggan’s Neighborhood Solar Initiative as “leading the fight against climate change.”

‘Dark money’ is still green 

Sarpolus said nonprofits like Put Progress First are useful vehicles for political donors who want to avoid public scrutiny. The lack of disclosure requirements makes it more difficult to learn how interest groups feel about candidates.

Social welfare organizations have also been a part of corruption scandals involving former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield. 

Duggan is a formidable fundraiser in his own right, gathering more than $1 million for his last reelection campaign. The mayor has collected donations from a web of corporate executives, unions, industry groups and deep-pocketed friends. 

A committee formed for Duggan’s mayoral campaigns collected a few donations this year, including $6,600 from Rush Trucking CEO Andra Rush. The Chaldean Chamber PAC gave Duggan $10,000 last October.  

“(Duggan) likes power, but does business want him to leave the city of Detroit?” Sarpolus said. “I would guarantee you, if the business interests don’t want him to leave Detroit, his money for running for governor would dry up really quick. Corporate America gives a lot of money to the city of Detroit. Business supports Mike Duggan. In the end, can he get approval from people who would fund his campaign?” 

Duggan has a long history of being associated with nonprofits that advance political causes and candidates. 

Put Progress First was formed by Wilk, a member of the National Republican Lawyers Association and attorney at Dykema. Wilk has formed other nonprofits with a similar structure that backed Dugan’s policy agenda and promoted candidates for state and local offices.

Wilk previously formed Save Detroit Jobs and Our Neighborhoods First, which were focused on supporting a community benefits ordinance passed by Detroit voters in 2016 and a 2020 demolition bond proposal also adopted by voters.

After the 2020 election, Our Neighborhoods First went on to fund political ads against Duggan’s opponent in 2021.

“Money people use the term dark money,” DeWitt said. “But dark money is green money, so keep that in mind.”