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Mike Duggan

born 1958American · lawyer, hospital executive, mayor of Detroit

Detroit-born Wayne County prosecutor and Detroit Medical Center chief who won the mayoralty as a write-in in 2013 and led the city's post-bankruptcy recovery for three terms (2014–2025).

Portrait of Mike Duggan
Photo: City of Detroit · Public domain
Born

Detroit, Michigan
age 68
Birth name
Michael Edward Duggan
Also known as
Michael E. Duggan
Detroit years
1958–1963, 2012–
Field
Politics, Law, Business & brands

01 / The Detroit story

The Detroit story

Mike Duggan was born in Detroit in 1958 and spent his first years on Stansbury Street on the west side before his family moved to Livonia. He graduated from Detroit Catholic Central and earned his bachelor's and law degrees at the University of Michigan. He spent fourteen years as deputy Wayne County executive under Edward McNamara, ran the region's SMART bus system, was elected Wayne County prosecutor in 2000 and from 2004 turned around the Detroit Medical Center as its chief executive. In 2012 he moved into the city to run for mayor; knocked off the primary ballot on a residency technicality, he won as a write-in and then beat Sheriff Benny Napoleon, becoming the first white mayor of majority-Black Detroit since 1974. Taking office as the city emerged from bankruptcy, he focused on streetlights, buses, emergency response, demolition of vacant houses and neighborhood investment, and won re-election in 2017 and 2021. He left office at the end of 2025 and briefly ran for governor as an independent.

Highlights

  1. Mayor of Detroit, 2014–2025 (three terms)
  2. Won the 2013 primary as a write-in candidate
  3. President and CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, 2004–2012
  4. Wayne County prosecutor, 2001–2004
  5. Led the city's recovery after the 2013 bankruptcy

02 / Their Detroit places

Their Detroit places 2

Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.

  1. Worked here · 2014–2025

    The Spirit of Detroit

    Seat of the mayor's office during his three terms.

    2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226Map ↗Place page →Source ↗

  2. Studied here · 1970s

    Detroit Catholic Central High School

    Catholic boys' school he graduated from, then in Redford; now in Novi.

    27225 Wixom Rd, Novi, MI 48374Map ↗Place page →Source ↗