VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS GEAR UP FOR A BRUISING MIDTERM ELECTION NEXT YEAR, MIKE DUGGAN IS CHARTING A DIFFERENT PATH.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Duggan, (I) Michigan gubernatorial candidate:

“I’m looking to change the quality of life in Michigan. And I don’t really intend to get involved in the national Republican versus Democratic talking points.”

THE LONGTIME DEMOCRAT IS FOREGOING A RUN FOR A FOURTH TERM AS DETROIT’S MAYOR TO INSTEAD PUT FORWARD AN INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN FOR MICHIGAN GOVERNOR.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Duggan, (I) Michigan gubernatorial candidate:

“I’m fed up with the two-party system. I think a lot of people in this state are fed up with the two-party system. And it’s not going to change by electing another Republican or Democrat. And I’m hoping the people of this state say, it’s time to say to both parties: ‘We want you to behave differently.’”

DUGGAN WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WINNING AN ALREADY CROWDED PRIMARY ON EITHER SIDE -- FACING OFF AGAINST THE LIKES OF DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON OR G-O-P CONGRESSMAN JOHN JAMES.

BUT HE WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE IRE OF HIS FORMER PARTY.

DEMOCRATS FEAR HE COULD DRAW SUPPORT FROM THEIR NOMINEE AND POTENTIALLY HAND THE GOVERNOR’S RACE TO A REPUBLICAN.

THEY HAVE LAUNCHED ATTACK ADS AGAINST DUGGAN AND ACCUSED HIM OF BEING BANKROLLED BY ALLIES OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND MAGA LOYALISTS.

DUGGAN SAYS VOTERS ARE TIRED OF PARTISAN FIGHTING.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Duggan, (I) Michigan gubernatorial candidate:

“It doesn’t actually matter where I go in this state. People are angry that their problems are not getting solved, because the two parties are so consumed with fighting with each other.”

A NUMBER OF STATES HAVE ELECTED INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN THE PAST FEW DECADES.

MICHIGAN IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

DUGGAN SAYS NOT TO WORRY.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Duggan, (I) Michigan gubernatorial candidate:

“I don’t think like that. And if I did, I would not have run for mayor of Detroit, an 83% Black city, as a white guy, because, if you do the calculations, somebody who looks like me shouldn’t have a chance. And when it was done, the election wasn’t that close.”