Former Detroit Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan announced he is suspending his independent campaign for Michigan governor, turning the three-way contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer into a typical partisan race in the blue-trending state.

Duggan was a popular mayor of the Motor City who garnered sizable support in his first unsuccessful write-in campaign and forged relationships with key city stakeholders like Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford Jr., an early backer of his gubernatorial bid.

As a former Democrat, conventional wisdom held that his presence hurt Democratic nominee Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, while his moderate positioning was also considered attractive to Republicans who otherwise might support GOP nominee Rep. John James.

NBC News reporter Henry Gomez said on X that Democrats had been «hitting him almost as hard as John James» and that the move was likely «welcome news» for the left in the Great Lakes State.

SWING STATE GOVERNOR’S RACE GETS CURVEBALL AS TOP DEM RUNS INDEPENDENT, SPARKING CALLS FOR BUTTIGIEG TO ENTER

«Dear Michigan, I’ve decided to suspend my campaign,» Duggan announced via public letter Thursday.

«We knew the independent route was filled with challenge. Even against those odds, the excitement for real change carried this campaign upward for more than a year,» he said.

Duggan dismissed claims he was trying to be a «spoiler» for either side and instead aimed to change the tenor of national politics.

«I’m still hopeful our campaign will prove to have a real long-term impact,» Duggan said.

«I will never be able to express the gratitude I feel for all your support and encouragement. I wish I could have done better for you.»

When he announced his run, Duggan pointed to his family history and his own political evolution as evidence a change is needed in government.

MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT QUITS POLITICS, SAYS PARTY’S AGENDA BETRAYED HER FAITH

He told BridgeDetroit his late father supported former President Ronald Reagan but wouldn’t recognize the Trump-led GOP — while Duggan himself admitted the Democratic Party he once knew to be an ally of the working class is sliding in that regard.

In one such instance, Democrats piled on Duggan for referring to people illicitly present in America as «illegal immigrants» instead of «undocumented.»

«If there was ever a time to give people a third choice, this would be the year,» he told the outlet.

Benson told Fox News Digital in a statement that Duggan brought civility to a body politic greatly needing it.

«I want to thank Mayor Mike Duggan for what he brought to this race and for his years of service to Detroit,» she said, noting how divided politics has become.

«I welcome Mayor Duggan’s ideas, his supporters, and everyone who believes Michigan’s future is bigger than division — and that it can be a place where anyone can afford to live, work, and thrive.»

REPUBLICANS HAVE CHANCE TO SECURE GOVERNORSHIPS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES NEXT YEAR

«We may not always agree on everything, but we share a commitment to building a stronger Michigan. And that work continues in this campaign,» Benson concluded.

Fox News Digital also reached out to James’ campaign.

In a statement on social media, the Republican said he wanted to thank Duggan for years of service to Michigan and its largest city.

«I respect anyone willing to step into the arena and serve something bigger than themselves. While we have real disagreements on policy, we both recognize Michigan is headed in the wrong direction,» he said, opening the door to working with the former Democrat if he so desired.

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«Our state has endured too much decline and political dysfunction. I’m ready to work with anyone willing to deliver real solutions, reject the politics of division, and fight for safer communities, stronger families and economic growth — our state’s future is too important for anything less.»

While Trump narrowly won Michigan in breaking the proverbial «blue wall» for the second time in three attempts in 2024, the state has reliably chosen Democrats in other statewide races, including Whitmer, Sen. Elissa Slotkin — who won former Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s open seat in 2024 — and the state’s other upper-chamber incumbent, retiring Sen. Gary Peters.

Sen. Bernie Sanders lashed out at a reporter for Fox News Digital when pressed on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s resurfaced vulgar Reddit posts, telling the reporter to «get a better job.»

«Who do you work for?» Sanders asked when questioned about Platner’s posts. When told Fox News Digital, Sanders replied, «Why don’t you talk to your owner Mr. Murdoch and ask him for a raise so you can get a better job.»

Sanders endorsed Platner in August 2025.

Several other Democratic senators also declined to weigh in on Platner’s resurfaced Reddit posts and what they could mean for his Senate bid. Some said they had not seen the posts, while others declined to comment altogether.

BERNIE SANDERS DEFENDS MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE UNDER FIRE FOR REDDIT COMMENTS

«I haven’t seen it,» Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. «I’m not following it. Sorry.»

«I’m not going to take any position in that election,» Sen. Angus King, R-Maine, said. «That’s my practice since I’ve been in the Senate.»

«On whose?» Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said when asked to comment on Platner’s posts. «No, I’m not gonna get into that.»

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore, said the viability of Platner’s candidacy should be left to Maine voters to decide.

UNEARTHED POSTS SHOW DEM SENATE HOPEFUL PRAISING VULGAR GRAFFITI, MAKING CRUDE PORTA-POTTY ADMISSION

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., blocked a Republican-authored photo ID bill on Thursday night. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

«The people of Maine get to choose who they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate,» Merkley said. «And so I encourage you to interview the people in Maine, because that’s what a democracy is all about.»

«I have not seen his post, so I’m not going to be able to be in a position to evaluate them.»

Platner has faced increasing scrutiny after since-deleted Reddit posts resurfaced online, ranging from talking about masturbating in portable toilets to mocking a wounded Purple Heart U.S. soldier.

These posts are among the newest discoveries from his past Reddit history, with previously exposed posts revealing him on rape victims to take responsibility and praising Hamas’ tactics. 

WATCH: COLLINS RIPS MAINE CHALLENGER PLATNER OVER RESURFACED REDDIT POST MOCKING WOUNDED US SOLDIER

Senatorial candidate Graham Platner speaks at a town hall at the Leavitt Theater in Ogunquit, Maine, on Oct. 22, 2025. (Sophie Park/Getty Images)

«I still have to jerk off every time I sit in a portas—-er… that blue water smell conditioned me,» Platner wrote in one resurfaced post.

Platner has publicly addressed some of the posts in the past, attributing them to a troubling time in his life after being in the military and suffering from PTSD. He served three tours in Iraq for the Marine Corps and one tour in Afghanistan for the U.S. Army.

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The comments were made under the Reddit account «P-Hustle,» which Platner has acknowledged owning. The posts range from 2009 through as recently as 2021. The entire archive of more than 2,000 posts is available on the Maine Monitor database.

«He’s explained his journey and his evolution and his PTSD from the war, and again, I think it’s a judgment that should be rendered by the people of Maine,» said Merkley.

Estados Unidos e Irán mantuvieron el jueves posiciones enfrentadas sobre el destino de las reservas de uranio enriquecido de Teherán y el control del Estrecho de Ormuz, aunque Washington aseguró que detectó algunas señales de avance en las negociaciones para intentar cerrar un acuerdo que ponga fin a la crisis abierta por la guerra y reduzca la tensión en Medio Oriente.

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, afirmó que Washington buscará quedarse con las reservas iraníes de uranio altamente enriquecido, material que la Casa Blanca considera destinado a un eventual uso militar, aunque Teherán sostiene que forma parte de un programa exclusivamente pacífico.

“Lo conseguiremos. No lo necesitamos, no lo queremos. Probablemente lo destruiremos después de conseguirlo, pero no vamos a dejar que ellos lo tengan”, declaró Trump ante periodistas en la Casa Blanca.

Las declaraciones del mandatario dejaron en evidencia que uno de los principales puntos de conflicto entre ambas partes continúa sin resolución. Fuentes iraníes citadas por Reuters señalaron que no existe un acuerdo cerrado, aunque admitieron que las diferencias entre Washington y Teherán se redujeron en las últimas conversaciones.

Según esas fuentes, el enriquecimiento de uranio y el control iraní sobre el Estrecho de Ormuz siguen entre los principales obstáculos para destrabar una negociación.

El secretario de Estado estadounidense, Marco Rubio, reconoció que hubo algunos avances en los contactos diplomáticos, aunque evitó mostrarse confiado. “Hay algunas buenas señales”, dijo Rubio. “No quiero ser demasiado optimista… Veamos qué ocurre en los próximos días”.

Sin embargo, Rubio advirtió que una solución diplomática resultaría inviable si Irán avanza con su intención de imponer cargos a la navegación en el Estrecho de Ormuz, un corredor marítimo clave para el comercio energético mundial. “Haría inviable un acuerdo diplomático si continúan por ese camino. Es una amenaza para el mundo si intentaran hacerlo, y es completamente ilegal”, sostuvo.

Trump también rechazó de manera explícita la posibilidad de que Teherán cobre peajes por el paso de buques en esa vía marítima, por donde antes de la guerra transitaba cerca de una quinta parte del petróleo y gas natural comercializado en el mundo.

“Queremos que esté abierto, queremos que sea libre. No queremos peajes”, afirmó el presidente estadounidense. “Es una vía navegable internacional”.

Dos fuentes iraníes indicaron antes de esas declaraciones que el líder supremo iraní, el ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, ordenó que el uranio no salga del país, una decisión que complica las exigencias de Washington.

Trump reiteró además que está dispuesto a reanudar los ataques contra Irán, iniciados por Estados Unidos e Israel a fines de febrero, si no recibe “las respuestas correctas” de la dirigencia iraní. En respuesta, la Guardia Revolucionaria iraní advirtió que una nueva ofensiva provocará represalias que podrían extenderse más allá de Medio Oriente.

En paralelo, las negociaciones para intentar poner fin al conflicto avanzan con dificultades. A seis semanas del alto el fuego, considerado frágil por las partes, los contactos diplomáticos no lograron todavía destrabar los puntos centrales del conflicto.

Pakistán mantiene un rol activo como mediador. Fuentes vinculadas a las conversaciones señalaron que el jefe del Ejército paquistaní, Asim Munir, podría viajar a Teherán para impulsar nuevos contactos.

“Estamos hablando con todos los distintos grupos en Irán para agilizar la comunicación y que las cosas avancen más rápido”, señaló una de las fuentes cercanas a la negociación. “La paciencia de Trump se está agotando, pero estamos trabajando en el ritmo con el que se transmiten los mensajes de cada lado”.

El ministro del Interior paquistaní, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, realizó además su segundo viaje a Teherán esta semana con un mensaje de Estados Unidos y mantuvo reuniones con el presidente iraní, Masoud Pezeshkian, el canciller Abbas Araqchi y otras autoridades, según reportó la agencia semioficial iraní ISNA.

Teherán presentó esta semana una nueva propuesta a Washington. Según las descripciones iraníes, la oferta repite condiciones que Trump ya rechazó, entre ellas reclamos de control sobre el Estrecho de Ormuz, compensaciones por daños de guerra, levantamiento de sanciones, liberación de activos congelados y retiro de tropas estadounidenses.

La disputa también mantiene en alerta a los mercados energéticos. La Agencia Internacional de Energía advirtió que el conflicto provocó el peor shock energético global y señaló que el mercado podría entrar en una “zona roja” en julio y agosto por el pico de demanda estival y la falta de nueva oferta de Medio Oriente.

Aunque algunos barcos siguen cruzando el Estrecho de Ormuz, el flujo está muy por debajo de los niveles previos a la guerra. Irán informó que 31 embarcaciones atravesaron el corredor en las últimas 24 horas, lejos de los entre 125 y 140 tránsitos diarios que se registraban antes del conflicto.

(Con información de REUTERS)