DETROIT – June 2, 2025 – On the heels of Mike Duggan’s landmark speech at the Mackinac Policy Conference, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC)—the statewide union representing more than 14,000 carpenters, floorlayers and millwrights—are announcing their endorsement of Mike Duggan for governor of Michigan as an Independent.
Duggan’s speech called out the toxic partisanship we’re seeing in Lansing and how it’s held Michigan back from tackling its most pressing issues like education and population growth.
“Mike Duggan’s speech at Mackinac proves exactly why we need him to be Michigan’s next Governor,” said Tom Lutz, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the MRCC. “He’s not afraid to take on the status quo. When he sees a problem, he doesn’t just talk. He gets to work. He brings people together, regardless of politics, and gets things done. We’re proud to endorse him and will work alongside him to build a Michigan where working men and women can build a strong future for themselves and their families.”
When Amazon decided to build the Amazon Fulfillment Center at the long-vacant Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit, Duggan served as a bridge between business and labor. Today, the center employs over 1,200 people—many of them Detroit residents—and features more than 17 miles of conveyance and the latest in robotics technology.
“Mike Duggan’s leadership has turned vision into opportunity. Not just for the city, but for our workers,” said Mike Barnwell, President of the MRCC. “Mike Duggan made sure that when Amazon was considering building in Detroit, the MRCC was at the table. Together, we took on a complex, high impact project and ensured it created local jobs for local workers. This is the kind of partnership that creates real opportunity and sets a standard for how labor and business can build a stronger Michigan together.”
When the MRCC decided to build a new training facility in Detroit, Duggan supported them every step of the way. He even assembled a special team to help the MRCC get the training center up and running as quickly as possible. Mike Duggan knows the incredible power of union training to lift up working families.
Since it opened in 2022, the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center on Detroit’s Westside has trained more than 1,360 apprentices and journeypeople. The $30 million state-of-the-art facility is now the MRCC’s headquarters.
The MRCC’s endorsement of Mike Duggan as an Independent for governor highlights his commitment to creating good-paying union jobs, investing in skilled trades and delivering opportunity results for working families—not just in Detroit, but across Michigan. This endorsement adds to the growing momentum behind Duggan’s campaign and reflects the confidence the labor movement has in his ability to lead the state forward.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights,” said Duggan. “This partnership is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we put aside the toxic partisan politics and work together to move Michigan forward. I’m excited to continue collaborating with the MRCC to create good-paying jobs and deliver the real change that Michigan deserves.”
The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights joins 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) and more than 160 Michigan clergy and faith leaders in endorsing Mike Duggan for governor.
