The political leadership in Michigan will go through some major changes with the multiple elections being held in the next couple of years.

This week on WDET’s MichMash, Gongwer News Services’ Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss the future of Michigan politics and who has the best chance to win their respective races in the state. 

Also, Michigan political consultant and co-host of the Baldly Bipartisan podcast, Adrian Hemond, and Resch Strategies VP Anna Heaton joined the conversation.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Sen. Gary Peters’ retirement
• Mike Duggan’s chances as an independent in the governor’s race
• How the voting landscape is changing

Michigan has never had an open governor’s race and an open senate seat in the same year, until now.

Many were surprised when Sen. Gary Peters announced his retirement earlier this year. Hemond said that Peters retiring breaks the norm for politicians.

“…the United States Senate is an exceptionally old institution and someone voluntarily retiring when they are around Medicare eligibility is actually unheard of,” he said.

Several candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to fill the open seat, including Democratic candidates Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, veteran Rachel Howard, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, and Michigan House Speaker Joseph Tate.  

On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, Kent Benham, Frederick Heurtebise and Genevieve Scott have all launched campaigns. Independent candidates in the race are Lydia Christensen and Craig Henley Johnson. 

When asked about the governor’s race, Heaton spoke about the challenges Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will face running as an Independent.

“When he first announced, Republicans were a little smug, thinking he’s just going to draw from the Democratic base,” she said. “In the most recent poll that I reviewed, you know, he’s equally liked by Republicans and Democrats — and really high favorability ratings.” 

Still, Heaton said name recognition across the state could pose a significant challenge for him outside the metro area.

Despite those challenges, Hemond thinks it would be a mistake to bet against Duggan.

“If there’s anyone in Michigan politics that can do it it’s Mike Duggan, both because of the skill that he has and the Rolodex that he has — outside of just politics right, which I think is super important; but also he has sky-high name ID in the metro Detroit media market, which is where half the people in Michigan live,” he said.

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Sen. Gary Peters’ retirement; Duggan on running for governor as an independent and more
• MichMash: Duggan endorsement shakes up governor’s race; Sen. Camilleri advocates for K-12 budget
• Michigan House adopts voter ID bills, sends it to Whitmer for likely veto

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Davis Aerospace High School returns to airport campus with expanded aviation training

Davis Aerospace Technical High School is returning to its original home at the Coleman A. Young International Airport—a move that will once again give students access to the runway and hands-on aviation training.

The school, which offers free aviation courses including drone certification and pilot licensing, was relocated in 2013 while the city was under state management. Since then, students have been unable to obtain federal certification in aviation mechanics due to lack of airport access.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says the move is meant to correct a decision made under emergency management.

“We’ve gone about reforming the school district,” Vitti says. “Sometimes everyone’s quick to get rid of everything and say nothing worked in the past, and this was the complete opposite of that. This was about bringing something back that absolutely made sense and should have never been taken away from the district and the city.”

The airport’s three-level terminal will be converted into the school’s new campus, which is scheduled to open in fall 2026. The relocation is expected to allow the high school to expand its enrollment to 200 students.

Principal Michelle Davis says this year, nine students passed their FAA drone certification course, and four passed the written portion of the private pilot’s license test. With the move, those students will be able to fly next year—something the school hasn’t been able to offer since 2013.

The relocation will cost nearly $15 million, with funding split between the school district and the state.

Detroit mayoral candidates clash over jobs, housing at debate

Affordable housing and job creation were at the forefront of a spirited Detroit mayoral debate held Monday night at Wayne State University. About half of the candidates running for the city’s top office took part in the event.

City Council President Mary Sheffield said Detroit must find ways to use downtown investment to lift up neighborhoods across the city.

Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr. pledged to lead both his congregation and the city if elected mayor, while former Detroit Police Chief James Craig described himself as a “proven leader.”

But the most pointed moment of the evening came during closing remarks from former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, who targeted each of her rivals with sharp criticism:

“More guns in schools… locking up our kids… Craig is your guy. If you want a part-time mayor who’s working two full-time jobs… Kinloch is ready. If you want a mayor who shows up on Instagram but doesn’t show up for meetings… follow Mary. Thank you.”

The crowd responded audibly before Craig replied:

“Gloves are off now!”

Kinloch pushed back in his final statement, saying:

“Detroit cannot build up by tearing others down.”

District 5 voters invited to meet City Council candidates at Eastern Market

BridgeDetroit is hosting a Meet the Candidates event this Wednesday at Eastern Market for residents of Detroit’s District 5. All seven candidates running to replace City Council President Mary Sheffield are expected to attend.

The event offers voters a chance to ask questions, hear directly from the candidates, and enjoy a meal—Greek food will be served.

District 5 residents are encouraged to bring their curiosity and their appetite. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance.

Event Details
What: Meet the Candidates – Detroit City Council District 5
When: Wednesday, June 19, 2025
Where: Eastern Market
RSVP: Reserve your spot on Eventbrite

Detroit Public Library celebrates Juneteenth with family events across the city

The Detroit Public Library is celebrating Juneteenth all week long with family-friendly events at branches across the city.

At the Main Library on Woodward Avenue, the annual Juneteenth Celebration takes place Wednesday and will feature special guests from the Midwest Invitational Rodeo. Visitors can enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, lawn games, arts and crafts, face painting, line dancing, and more. The event also marks the kickoff of the library’s Summer Reading Program.

Other highlights this week include:

• Movie night at the Campbell Branch
• A Juneteenth Jamboree at the Edison and Elmwood Park branches
• Storytimes, storytelling, and history programs for all ages throughout the city

To explore the full schedule of events, visit detroitlibrary.org.

Come November, Detroit residents will decide who among them will lead the city into its next chapter by taking Mike Duggan’s place as mayor.

Today’s episode of The Metro features Todd Perkins, one of the ten mayoral candidates, as well as an Attorney, Founder and owner of The Perkins Law Group. He speaks with our host Tia Graham about what he thinks makes him the one for the job.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming  on demand.

More stories from The Metro

As Detroit’s mayoral race begins to take shape, residents will have to decide which candidates will address the issues most important to them. The candidates have outlined the issues they believe will improve the lives of Detroit residents, but what do residents and community leaders believe needs to be addressed by the next mayor?

Cindy Gamboa is the Executive director of MI Poder– a non profit civic engagement organization that services Michigan’s Latino population- and she’s joined  The Metro today to shed light on the subject.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming  on demand.

More stories from The Metro

After serving in office for more than a decade, Mike Duggan is in his final term as mayor of Detroit. That has led to a crowded mayoral race, with nine people formally entering to have their names appear on the August primary ballot. Two candidates will advance to the November general election.

Whoever becomes Detroit’s next mayor will have a number of issues to tackle and one of them is transit. The city’s bus and streetcar systems are in need of upgrades. Meanwhile, Southeast Michigan as a whole still lacks a truly regional transit system.

With so many candidates in the race and so many topics to cover, Detroiters are eager to know where they stand on transit. A nonprofit called Transportation Riders United hosted a forum last week, giving each candidate a chance to discuss how they would address transit issues if elected.

Today on The Metro, WDET reporter Alex McLenon joins us to talk about the hour-long forum. The discussion included how DDOT has reimagined its service plans. The department spends a significant amount of time and money training and paying drivers, yet many of those drivers leave for higher wages at SMART after completing their certification.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro