Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, declared on Tuesday that he would not seek reelection in Michigan in 2026, setting up a crucial open-seat contest in one of the country’s most evenly divided swing states.
In an interview with The Detroit News, Peters announced that he would not retire but would not run for reelection because he did not believe that serving in Congress was something that should be done for the rest of one’s life.
He told the newspaper, “I always thought there would come a time when I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation.”
This is a fairly common statement, in my opinion, for everyone to make: I’ve done a job, and I’m proud of it, but I have other goals for my life. I can contribute to the community in various ways.
Peters announced his choice via a press release and video as well.
The battle for Senate control in two years and maybe Michigan’s highly anticipated gubernatorial contest will be affected by Peters’ choice. Republicans presently control the tie-breaking vice presidency and 53 Senate seats. The fact that Peters is retiring from a state that Donald Trump has won by a slim margin twice (and lost once) may make it more challenging for his party to win the majority.
In the competitive state, Peters has had to contend with difficult election battles on numerous occasions. Therefore, the open race simply increases the possibility of a competitive Senate election in Michigan next year, when it may be one of the most important battlegrounds on the Senate map, even if his race would have probably been competitive if he had chosen to run again.
A big field of potential candidates for Senate and governor
It’s unknown who candidate from either party would challenge Peters. Since two-term Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, the state’s attention has been mostly on the open race for governor, to the point where citizens in Michigan were already anticipating the 2026 elections.
Whitmer would not run for Peters’ seat, according to a statement released by a representative for her political organization, Fight Like Hell.
The spokeswoman stated, “Governor Whitmer is grateful for Senator Peters’ service.” “She is proudly serving the people of Michigan as governor and is not running for this seat in the Senate.”
Right present, the only significant Democrat in the run for governor is Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, while the only significant Republican in the race is Republican Leader of the Michigan State Senate Aric Nesbitt. Former Democrat Mike Duggan, the mayor of Detroit, is running on his own initiative after quitting the party.
However, it was anticipated that a large number of prospective candidates from both parties would think about running for governor. Some of those legislators might be persuaded to run for the Senate instead by the opening.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who moved to the state a few years ago (his husband was born and raised in Michigan), and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a member of the Democratic leadership in the Senate whose influence has grown in the state after she gave a buzzy floor speech retaliating against Republicans who said her party wanted to indoctrinate children, are all potential Democratic candidates for governor.
Additionally, there are several current or former GOP members of Congress who might be strong contenders if they choose to run, as well as 2022 gubernatorial candidates who might want to attempt again, so the Republican field could grow crowded.
Now that the Senate campaign is open, Michigan Republicans and Democrats may use it as another outlet for their bottled-up political ambition.
For instance, Republican Representative John James has run in two of the previous three Senate elections, but it’s unclear if he would like to do so again this year. A Republican Senate strategist following the race told NBC News that they are particularly watching James, along with current Rep. Bill Huizenga and former Rep. Mike Rogers, who ran in 2024.
House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Lisa McClain, a Republican, told reporters she is “happy here” in the House and would not seek the Senate.
Political analyst Tudor Dixon, who lost to Whitmer in the 2022 gubernatorial contest, admitted on Tuesday that she is thinking about running in the GOP Senate primary.
“I appreciate the outpouring of support and am considering our future very seriously,” Dixon stated on X.
According to a person with knowledge of Buttigieg’s thoughts, he is “exploring all options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve.”
“He s honored to be mentioned for this, and he s taking a serious look,” said a source.
In light of the ongoing gubernatorial contest, a source close to Gilchrist stated that he is also thinking about running for the Senate.
“This is a pivotal time for Michigan and the country, and while he s working with Governor Whitmer to make progress for Michigan he s seriously considering running for this open Senate seat,” a source said.
She is considering the Senate and governor campaigns, McMorrow told NBC News, adding that she intends to “have a number of conversations in the coming days about where I can do the most good for Michiganders.”
According to a source close to her, Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., who was elected to a second term in a district near Grand Rapids in year, is also considering running for the Senate.
According to Kevin Holst, executive director of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, the organization is willing to spend seven figures in the primary on Gilchrist’s behalf if he decides to run for the Senate next year rather than governor.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s successful campaign to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow had a reasonably clean Democratic primary field, according to GOP consultant Dennis Lennox, who has a lot of experience in Michigan.
Lennox noted Buttigieg as a strong candidate and stated that Democrats in Michigan have stronger institutions and that clearing the field will benefit their ultimate nominee.
Lennox continued by mentioning James as a possible contender for either position and questioned if Huizenga or Rep. John Moolenaar would be willing to relinquish their House seats in the event that James did not seek the Senate.
He mentioned former RNC and Michigan GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel as a wild card candidate, adding that there isn’t much of a Republican bench but that Michigan is one of those states where there is always an outside business type of candidate that self-funds.
Peters’ rise in politics
Peters stated to The Detroit News that he is intent on serving out his term in the Senate and would not seek another public office in 2026.
After defeating a GOP incumbent in a House campaign in the Oakland County area, Peters, a former state legislator, Naval Reserve officer, and chairman of the state lottery, moved to Washington in 2009. Prior to winning a challenging Democratic primary after redistricting placed him in a district with another incumbent, he won a challenging re-election in 2010 amidst the Republican wave.
After defeating James in a fiercely contested 2020 race, he went on to win a campaign to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin in 2014.
Peters is a member of the Senate’s Appropriations, Armed Services and Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees, which are important committee positions. Additionally, he led the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, for two terms. In a 2022 election cycle that many predicted would be challenging for his party, Democrats increased their majority under his leadership.
The Senate was no longer controlled by Democrats two years later. In addition to losing seats in Ohio, Montana, and West Virginia in 2024, Democratic Senator Bob Casey also lost in Pennsylvania. However, Democrats retained Senate seats in other battlegrounds that Trump won, including as Michigan.