Michigan Governor Candidate Accused of Fabricating Union Endorsements

Independent candidate Mike Duggan's campaign has deleted a post claiming endorsements from major labor unions that did not actually endorse him.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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An independent gubernatorial candidate in Michigan, Mike Duggan, is facing scrutiny after his campaign posted claims of endorsements from several major labor unions, including the United Auto Workers and the Teamsters, that the unions say they did not actually provide. The post has since been deleted, and Duggan's campaign has acknowledged the error.

Why it matters

Duggan, the former mayor of Detroit, is running for governor of Michigan as an independent, which could potentially split the vote between Democrats and Republicans in the general election. Fabricating endorsements from prominent labor unions, which typically align with Democratic candidates, raises questions about Duggan's campaign tactics and transparency.

The details

According to reports, Duggan's campaign posted on a social media account claiming he had been endorsed by several major labor unions, including the United Auto Workers Local 412, the Teamsters, the Operating Engineers, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). However, both the UAW and SEIU confirmed they have not made any endorsements in the race yet. Additionally, the Operating Engineers Local 324 has endorsed a different candidate, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, in the Democratic primary.

  • The post claiming the endorsements was made on Monday, eight months before the November general election.

The players

Mike Duggan

An independent gubernatorial candidate in Michigan and the former mayor of Detroit.

United Auto Workers (UAW)

A major labor union that Duggan's campaign claimed had endorsed him, but the union denies making any endorsement in the race.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Another labor union that Duggan's campaign claimed had endorsed him, but the union also denies making any endorsement.

Operating Engineers Local 324

A labor union that has endorsed Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, a Democratic candidate, rather than Duggan.

Chris Swanson

The Genesee County sheriff who is running in the Democratic primary for Michigan governor and has received the endorsement of Operating Engineers Local 324.

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What they’re saying

“They endorsed me because I deliver for working people.”

— Mike Duggan, Gubernatorial Candidate (The Detroit News)

What’s next

The post has been deleted, and Duggan's campaign spokeswoman has acknowledged the error. It remains to be seen how this will impact Duggan's campaign and his standing with labor unions and Democratic voters.

The takeaway

This incident raises concerns about the transparency and integrity of Duggan's campaign, as well as the potential impact of independent candidates on the balance of power in Michigan's gubernatorial race.