Mike Duggan, a candidate in Michigan’s upcoming election, has received financial support from individuals known for their opposition to public schools. His campaign has accepted the maximum allowable contribution from JC Huizenga, a private school advocate and major Republican donor who previously worked with the DeVos family and led efforts to legalize charter schools in Michigan. Huizenga is also the founder of National Heritage Academies.
Additionally, Duggan’s campaign has taken nearly $17,000 from Ron Weiser and his family. Weiser is a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party and a significant supporter of the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP), an organization founded by Betsy DeVos that has promoted voucher programs and cuts to public education funding in the state. Reports indicate that Weiser has contributed at least $70,000 to GLEP’s political action committee.
The Michigan Education Association has highlighted how Betsy DeVos used GLEP to promote initiatives that could reduce funding for Michigan’s public schools by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman commented on these developments: “Anti-public school donors are lining up behind Mike Duggan because they know he’s open to their disastrous plans to drain funding from public schools and hurt students. Michigan’s kids and families want a governor who will always fight to protect our public schools, not a politician like Duggan who is running a self-serving, MAGA, and anti-public school backed campaign with no path to victory.”
The Michigan Democratic Party, headquartered in Lansing, focuses on supporting families, seniors, students, and veterans across the state while working to elect Democrats at all levels. The party encourages community involvement through volunteering opportunities such as door-knocking and provides resources for those interested in running for office. It operates statewide with efforts ranging from grassroots initiatives up to legislative advocacy.
