A Berkley city councilman is casting votes from an Army Reserve deployment overseas, while a Grand Blanc Township truck driver turned Libertarian nominee is trying to crash Michigan's marquee governor's race. Clarence Black and Anthony Hudson were both featured Wednesday on FOX 2 Detroit's Detroit Talk City, a pairing that captures two very different corners of Michigan politics heading into the November election.
Black made history in November 2023 when he became the first African American ever elected to the Berkley City Council, according to FOX 2 Detroit. He won one of three open seats that year alongside two incumbent council members, a milestone detailed by C & G Newspapers in its coverage of that election. Berkley, an Oakland County suburb, had a population of roughly 15,149 as of the Census Bureau's 2024 five-year survey, with non-Hispanic white residents making up about 85% of the community and Black residents comprising only 2% to 3%, according to Census Reporter data.
Serving on Council From a Deployment Zone
Black's council tenure has continued even after he deployed overseas with the U.S. Army Reserve. In June 2025, the major left for a 10- to 12-month tour in the Middle East but chose to remain on the council and participate virtually rather than step down, the same C & G Newspapers report noted. Black said at the time he was determined not to give up the seat given its historic significance to Berkley.
Before entering local government, Black built a wide public profile around Metro Detroit. He competed on the CBS reality show Survivor: Africa in 2001 and spent seven years as an on-air host for Detroit's Sports Radio 1130 WDFN, according to his official bio from the City of Berkley. He also works as a television analyst for high school basketball broadcasts, per the same bio. On the Detroit Talk City segment, Black discussed making history in Berkley, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
From Truck Driver to Third-Party Nominee
Anthony Hudson, the other guest on the program, is the Libertarian Party's candidate for Michigan governor after formally securing the nomination at the party's state convention in Grand Blanc on June 28, 2026. Hudson left the Republican primary field in February 2026, citing frustration with major party leadership, as reported by The Mining Journal.
Hudson moved to Michigan from Texas in 2012 and spent 20 years driving trucks before starting his own small trucking business, according to a candidate profile from WTPN News. He previously ran in the 2024 Republican primary for Michigan's 8th Congressional District, a race he lost, and Federal Election Commission disclosures reviewed by the outlet showed he raised $141,047 for that bid while spending $3,080 on campaign attire at retail stores — spending that drew media scrutiny at the time.
A Platform Built on Tax Elimination
Hudson's gubernatorial platform centers on completely eliminating Michigan's state income tax and property taxes, along with blocking solar farms, wind turbines, and data center developments on agricultural land, the Grand Blanc View reported. On Detroit Talk City, Hudson discussed shaking up Michigan's governor's race, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Hudson enters a general election dominated by major-party heavyweights. Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. Representative John James are the major-party nominees vying to succeed term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the November 3 election, according to Ballotpedia. Whitmer cannot seek another term because of Michigan's two-term limit.
Michigan's political history suggests the seat could be competitive regardless of party. No political party in the state has held the governor's office for more than two consecutive four-year terms in roughly 35 years, per Ballotpedia News. That trend underscores why third-party candidates like Hudson could still shape the margins even without a realistic path to victory themselves.
Hudson previously appeared in the 2026 governor's race field alongside other candidates, including a mention in Hoodline's coverage of Perry Johnson's return to the race, and he was also identified as an early entrant when Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist launched his own campaign. Hudson had additionally drawn attention while campaigning as a Republican when he took part in a Dearborn protest that sparked clashes at an anti-Islam rally.
