DETROIT – June 25, 2025 – Today, Detroit Plumbers Local Union 98, which represents over 1,600 workers in the Detroit-area construction industry, including plumbers, welders and metal tradesmen, announced its endorsement of Mike Duggan for governor of Michigan as an Independent. Plumbers Local 98 and its members know that as governor, Duggan will continue to fight for working families and make sure every Michigander has a pathway to a good-paying, stable career.
Plumbers Local 98 has continued to protect the health and welfare of Detroit and its metropolitan area, from providing vital services to keep families safe during the pandemic and ensuring renovated and newly constructed buildings function efficiently to restoring access to clean water. The organization’s work has helped Detroit navigate tough moments and build a stronger, more resilient future.
“When Mike Duggan first ran for mayor, people said he was a longshot—but we were one of the first to believe in and endorse him, and he’s never let us down,” said Gary Glaser, Business Manager of Plumbers Local 98. “During the pandemic, he made sure we were treated like the skilled tradesmen we are. He’s always had our backs—not just with words, but with real action. He listens, he shows up and he’s helped us bring in the next generation of apprentices. That’s the kind of leadership Michigan needs. That’s why we’re proud to stand with him as he runs for governor as an Independent.”
As mayor, Duggan recognized the critical role of Plumbers Local 98e in protecting public health and safety. Under his leadership, union plumbers helped build emergency hospitals at Huntington Place and in Novi during the height of the pandemic. Throughout his tenure, Duggan also worked closely with the union and city health officials to ensure new and existing facilities in Detroit were up to code, create and attract jobs and ensure families had access to clean water when they needed it most.
“I’m honored to have the support of Plumbers Local 98,” said Duggan. “These hardworking men and women have been with me through some of Detroit’s toughest years and we’ve delivered real progress together. Again and again, we’ve turned talk into action and I’m grateful for their ongoing partnership. We’re going to keep fighting to make sure workers and their families across Michigan have access to the opportunities they deserve.”
Plumbers Local 98 joins 1,000 IATSE Local 38 professionals in Michigan’s entertainment and cultural sectors, 4,000 carpenters, floorlayers and millwrights from the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC), more than 11,000 men and women from the Detroit Police Officers Association (DPOA), the Detroit Police Lieutenants & Sergeants Association (DPLSA), the Detroit Fire Fighters Association (DFFA), 7,000 hospitality workers from UNITE HERE Local 24 and more than 160 Michigan clergy and faith leaders in endorsing Mike Duggan for governor.
As an Independent, Duggan is running to put people over partisanship and lead with a focus on what really matters: a better education for our children, safer communities for families and inclusive economic growth that reaches every corner of Michigan.
