This year’s Mackinac Policy Conference was full of breaking news, exciting announcements, and engaging policy discussions. But at last week’s conference, in an exclusive interview with the Michigan Chronicle, Dennis Archer Jr. hinted at some big news of his own, shedding a little light to the whirlwind of speculations about his potential bid for Detroit’s upcoming mayoral race.
Archer Jr. – Chairman and CEO of Sixteen42 Ventures and son of former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer – said he has given serious consideration to following in his father’s footsteps and running for mayor of Detroit. He also said that Detroit’s current mayor has to make a decision about his future before Archer Jr. makes his decision.
“I don’t think that’s it is a secret that I’m considering running for mayor if our existing mayor does not run for mayor. I’m a big fan and supporter of Mike Duggan and the work that he’s done, so for me, the best thing for the city – in terms of continuity – would be for him to seek another term,” Archer Jr. said.
“There’s a lot of speculation that (Duggan) may seek a higher office. If so, I can’t really say that I’m doing one thing or the other…until he makes up his mind because I think he’s doing an outstanding job. Once we get that news from him, I’ll start to probably be a little more public with discussions about what I would do.”
It’s been suggested that Duggan, who is in the penultimate year of his third term as mayor, could make a gubernatorial run in Michigan to fill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s seat, which will be vacated due to term limitations in January 2027. Duggan could also make a move to Washington in the instance that current President Joe Biden is re-elected in November’s election. Duggan has endorsed a Biden re-election, and the two have had a close working relationship since Duggan’s first term as Detroit’s mayor.
Archer Jr. has a strong case for a run, regardless of Duggan’s future. Archer Jr. is heavily involved with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce as a well-connected businessman in the city and across the region. Aside from being the Chairman and CEO of Sixteen42 Ventures, he’s also the CEO of Ignite Media Group, he is the creator and managing partner of Central Kitchen + Bar, he recently opened Vinyl Society in downtown Detroit’s Paradise Valley neighborhood, and he serves on several boards across the city. Additionally, he has several development projects in the works in Detroit. And that’s just the short version of his expansive resume.
If he does run, the list of potential opponents is also impressive. James Craig, who was Detroit Police Chief and candidate for governor in 2022, has also expressed interest in running in 2025. Craig also campaigned for U.S. Senate this year before dropping out of the race in February.
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield began laying the foundation for a potential campaign for the mayor’s seat back in August 2023 when she established the “Mary Sheffield for Detroit’s Future” committee. Her term as city council president ends when Duggan’s term ends in 2025.
Other names that have been mentioned as potential candidates for Duggan’s seat if he doesn’t run for re-election include Lt. Gov. Garland Gilchrist II, Wayne County Commissioner Warren Evans, President and CEO of the Michigan Black Business Alliance Charity Dean, Executive Director of Building Community Values Chase Cantrell, and Oakland County Commissioner Dave Coulter, who dismissed rumors of his potential run at January’s Detroit Policy Conference. As for Gilchrist II, he also sat down for an exclusive interview with Michigan Chronicle last week, but he didn’t suggest one way or another whether he’d make a run for Detroit mayor or Michigan governor.
“The news is, I can promise to everybody in the state of Michigan that I’m going to make it my business to go and meet them where they are, to understand what their priorities are, to let them know about how I, alongside the governor, have been working to change the trajectory of what’s possible in Michigan,” the lieutenant governor said.
“I’m just looking forward to continuing to have that conversation. And it’s my job to help them. That’s my whole job. And so what that means for me in the future, you’ll find out pretty soon.”