Gov. Gretchen Whitmer consistently and insistently says she does not intend to run for president. Just about the only elected official I can think of who has been equally unwavering in their public pledges about their political ambitions is Joe Biden, who said he would never stop running for president.
Uh-oh …
Biden’s historic reversal Sunday changes the dynamic in the presidential race in a way we’ve never seen before. And even if Whitmer remains steadfast in her declaration that she won’t run for the top office in America — and, arguably, the world — she has not so far said whether she would consider joining the Democratic ticket as vice president; or as a member of a Democratic administration, if whoever winds up on the ticket beats Republicans Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Vice president is the job infamously described as “not worth a pitcher of warm piss,” by John Nance Garner, who said that after serving two terms as VP to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It’s the job virtually every politician says they don’t want — until it’s offered to them. Then they gratefully accept it as if their dearest dream has just come true.
To speculate on such matters in a situation as fluid as this is like trying to build a house of cards in a whitewater raft. It is, candidly, a columnist’s nightmare.
This much I say with confidence: If the new Democratic ticket wins with Big Gretch as president, vice president, or a top choice for a primo cabinet position, it will upend Michigan’s political landscape in a way no living person in Michigan has seen before.
Whitmer leaving Lansing before her term ends on Jan. 1, 2027, would make Garlin Gilchrist governor. Gilchrist, the lieutenant governor and a Detroit Democrat, currently is an ambitious politician looking for something to run for, but finding no easy path.
Being elevated to governor would make Gilchrist the de facto incumbent and front-runner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2026. The last time something like this happened, Lt. Gov. William Milliken succeeded Gov. George Romney when he joined Richard Nixon’s administration in 1969. Milliken, a Republican, finished out Romney’s term and was reelected three times.
I can think of two people who are dreading such a scenario, and a gaggle more who could be equally unhappy.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are expected to compete for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2026, a race that would be dramatically complicated by a sitting Democratic governor. Duggan, a white man who lived most of his pre-mayoral life in the suburbs, is likely not eager to face a Black man from Detroit. And Benson, a white woman from Detroit, would likely not relish the competition for Michigan’s progressive votes.
The row of falling dominoes will run all the way down Interstate 96 to Detroit, where establishment and business-types worried about City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield succeeding Duggan as mayor may try to talk Hizzoner into running for a fourth term. They have been persuasive before, convincing Duggan to run as a write-in back in 2013, after he was resigned to spending more time at his cottage after getting kicked off the ballot on a technicality.
Duggan, the master strategist, hasn’t said yet whether he’ll run for a fourth term, run for governor, or finally get to spend some time in that cottage rocking chair watching his beloved Michigan Wolverines battle in a newly-reconstituted BiG Ten. So, he wouldn’t even seem like a flip-flopper (or chicken) if he declares his heart was always set on extending Detroit’s resurgence from downtown to its neighborhoods.
The gaggle whose ambitions could be thwarted by a Whitmer-to-Washington and Duggan-in-Detroit scenario begins in Detroit City Hall.
The challenge that Duggan running again poses for Sheffield, speaks for itself.
The ripples would likely also rock the boats of At-Large City Councilman Coleman Young Jr. and District 7 Councilman Fred Durhal, who are said to be weighing mayoral candidacies. At-Large Councilwoman Mary Waters who, if she is unsuccessful in her bid to unseat 13th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, may use the team she’s building to try and move into the Manoogian Mansion. I’m sure her partner, Sam Riddle, who currently gets his exercise jogging, would love a chance to move his workouts to the pool between the mayoral manse and its boathouse.
Other mayoral aspirants could find their road to the mayor’s office blocked, too.
Saunteel Jenkins, CEO of the Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), would likely see her support in the business community dry up. Some have suggested that Hill Harper, if he fails to win the Democratic nomination to run for U.S. Senate seat opened by Debbie Stabenow’s retirement, should run for mayor next. Adam Hollier, whose congressional campaign was derailed by fraudulent petitions, may aim high for his next race, though some supporters are still upset with him for blowing his chance to take out Thanedar. Then there’s Thanedar himself, who might consider a four-year mayoral term more comfortable than running every two years against a phalanx of candidates vowing to run him out of Washington so Detroit can restore its legacy of Black representation in the House of Representatives. And, since the mayor’s race is in 2025, Thanedar could run without giving up his congressional seat.
Then there are all the people who might run for Detroit City Council if some incumbents get in the mayoral race.
Again, it’s too early to rule anything out for Whitmer.
It’s not too early to say there are plenty of Democrats who love “Big Gretch,” but are secretly hoping she stays right where she is.
M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML’s Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on X at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick.
DETROIT, MI (WXYZ) — The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition’s Black Legacy Day celebration is an intergenerational, joy filled gathering in Detroit, centered around authentic joy and liberation.
On Saturday, May 30th, Detroiters, neighbors, partners and friends of every race, creed and background are invited to share in a day of reflection and fun. Highlights will include a food giveaway, a scavenger race, a men’s basketball tournament and free justice resources.
To learn more, visit www.theblac.co.
St. Hubert pastor discusses the Archdiocese of Detroit’s restructuring
The Rev. Douglas Bignall of St. Hubert Catholic Church in Harrison Township discusses the ongoing restructuring effort by the Archdiocese of Detroit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The list of churches targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to at least 58 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit had released as part of its major restructuring process through Friday.
At least 22 parishes under the first round of proposed models wouldn’t hold weekend Mass. The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The archdiocese has been holding listening sessions with parishioners this spring as part of its restructuring plan to get reactions.
The models have different proposed groupings of parishes, in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Sunday Mass.
The Archdiocese of Detroit released on May 22 and this past week the model proposals for another five planning areas, including areas of Macomb County, Oakland County and Detroit. Around 36 more parishes would no longer hold Mass in the future under the latest proposals.
Bunches of churches in Detroit would be affected, while four parishes in Troy and three parishes in Clinton Township wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass under each of the proposed models presented for their planning areas.
Archdiocese of Detroit spokesperson Holly Fournier said the archdiocese has heard a wide range of reactions about the proposed models, which is “understandable given how personal parish life is for people.”
“Some pastors and parishioners are hopeful about opportunities for stronger collaboration and renewed ministry, while others are experiencing more uncertainty and concern, especially in places where one or more models suggest a parish might no longer host weekend Masses in the future,” she said.
Fournier emphasized that the models are “draft models” and aren’t final decisions.
The models for the final six planning areas will be released in June, according to the restructuring website.
The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings it has and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.
Fournier said the draft models were developed by priests earlier this year and are being presented in listening sessions as proposals “meant to spark broader consultation with the faithful.” Each parish in the archdiocese is holding listening sessions this spring or early summer.
In other dioceses that have undergone restructuring processes like the Archdiocese of Detroit’s, as many as 20-40% of the initial models were changed as a result of parishioner feedback, Fournier said.
“That is why it is so important for Catholics to attend their parish listening sessions to view these models and provide their honest feedback, so informed adjustments can be made where necessary,” she said in an email.
One of the most heavily affected groupings is Planning Area 1, which includes west Detroit. Ten of its 13 parishes would not have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass in at least one of the model plans. They include Christ the King, Presentation/Our Lady of Victory, SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit), SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), St. Charles Lwanga Church, St. Mary of Redford, St. Moses the Black Parish, St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Scholastica and St. Suzanne-Our Lady Gate of Heaven, all of which are in Detroit.
Planning Area 9, which includes southeastern Oakland County, has between 15 and 19 parishes, depending on the model. Ten of the parishes wouldn’t hold weekend Mass in at least one of the models. Four of them are in Troy.
They include St. Lucy in Troy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Troy, Christ Our Light in Troy, St. Thomas More in Troy, St. Owen in Bloomfield Township, Our Lady of La Salette in Berkley, Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park, St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights and Divine Providence in Southfield.
Planning Area 10, which includes all of northern Oakland County and parts of western Oakland County, has 19 to 22 parishes, depending on the model. Seven would stop holding weekend Mass in at least one of the models, including St. Benedict in Waterford Township, St. Thomas More in Troy, Sacred Heart in Auburn Hills, St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, St. Perpetua in Waterford Township, St. Rita in Holly and Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield Township.
Planning Area 12, which includes parts of southern and eastern Macomb County, has 16 parishes. Four Warren parishes and three Clinton Township parishes would stop holding Mass under the draft models.
St. Louise de Marillac in Warren wouldn’t hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in two of the three draft models presented by the archdiocese. Six other parishes would not hold weekend Mass in only one of the models, including St. Louis in Clinton Township, San Francesco in Clinton Township, St. Ronald in Clinton Township, St. Martin de Porres in Warren, St. Faustina in Warren and St. Mark in Warren.
Planning Area 13, which includes areas of central and northern Macomb County and a parish in Troy, has 14 or 16 parishes, depending on the draft model. Three parishes in the planning area wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models: St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights, St. Matthias in Sterling Heights and SS. John and Paul in Washington Township.
Amore said that if a church stops holding Sunday Mass, parishioners are encouraged to worship at other churches in their “pastorate,” which is a grouping of parishes overseen by a pastor. In the long term, the church building might close, or other sacramental celebrations might take place there, such as weddings and baptisms, he said.
The parish’s buildings could also be repurposed for other uses, such as religious education classes.
Fournier said the proposed models are meant to “foster discussion and discernment.”
“We encourage Catholics to stay engaged in the process, share their feedback honestly, and remember that the goal is not simply organizational change, but ensuring vibrant Catholic communities for future generations,” she said.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
Detroit’s dining scene just got even more flavorful with the opening of Sunda New Asian, bringing modern Southeast Asian cuisine to the city.
Restaurant owner Billy Dec joins the show to share what guests can expect from the new hotspot, from bold dishes and incredible cocktails to an energetic atmosphere.
Watch the video above to see what’s cooking up at Sunda New Asian.
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