Sen. Gary Peters won’t seek reelection in Michigan

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) announced on Tuesday that he will not seek reelection to the Senate in 2026, dealing a blow to Democrats in their hopes of clawing back seats in the midterms. 

Peters made the decision official in an interview with The Detroit News, telling them that after two terms in the upper chamber and three additional ones in the House, he is ready to call it quits. 

“I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation. I also never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life,” Peters told the outlet. “I think this is pretty normal for everybody to say, I’ve done a job, and I’m proud of the job I did, but there are other things I want to do in my life. There are other ways that I can give back to the community.”

He also spoke at length about the decision in a nearly 5-minute long video. 

“What we do becomes a unique, individual life story having many chapters. At this point in my life, I have been able to write many different chapters and I look forward to the new ones with both anticipation and excitement,” Peters said. 

“Our Founding Fathers envisioned members of Congress as citizens, serving their country for a few turns and then returning to private life. I agree,” Peters said. “I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and then turn over the reins.”

The news has major ramifications on the 2026 map for Democrats. Michigan’s long-time senior senator, Democrat Debbie Stabenow, retired at the end of 2024 and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) narrowly kept her seat in Democratic hands.

Now, the party must put up a repeat performance in 2026.

It also gives Republicans a bigger target on the dart board. Peters had proved difficult to topple in his two Senate victories, and Republicans are expected to be mostly on defense, given that the GOP holds 20 of the 33 seats up next year.

Those include contests in Maine, North Carolina and Iowa that could become difficult.

“Gary Peters is reading the room. After spending years ignoring illegal immigration and destroying his state’s auto industry, Michigan is better off without him,” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement.

“We’re committed to giving them a fighter that will stand with President Trump to restore the economic prosperity and security of our country,” he added. 

Questions are already bubbling up over what Democrats will launch bids for the seat, especially in a year where the governorship in Lansing is also up. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) was quick out of the gate to say she will not be running for the seat. 

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is also likely to consider running to replace Peters, according to a source familiar. He moved to the Wolverine State in 2022. 

“Pete is exploring all of his 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,” the source said. 

Peters also added that he will not run to replace Whitmer as governor.

On the GOP side, a number of names are expected to take a look, including Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Rep. John James (R-Mich.) and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who lost to Slotkin in 2024. Tudor Dixon, who lost a bid to unseat Whitmer in 2022, also indicated interest in a bid of her own. 

Michigan as a whole has been difficult for Republicans in recent years. The GOP has not won a Senate seat there in three decades.

“No Republican has won a Michigan Senate race in 30 years — including last cycle when Democrats won an open Senate seat even as Trump won the state,” said David Bergstein, a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spokesperson, in a statement. “And Democrats will continue to hold this seat in 2026.”

The news also comes after Peters has become a bigger player for Democrats in recent years. He helmed the DSCC during their successful 2022 cycle and was cajoled into doing it once more for the less-successful 2024 one, which saw Republicans flip four seats and win a 53-seat majority. 

Peters is the lead Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, having been chairman for four years previously, while serving on the Commerce, Appropriations and Armed Services panels. 

Updated at 3:48 p.m.