Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who spearheaded the Democratic campaign in the Senate for the previous two election cycles, has declared that he will not run for a third term in 2026, opening up a fiercely contested battleground seat that both major political parties are likely to pursue.
The 66-year-old’s shocking decision on Tuesday to resign after only two terms is unexpected and presents a challenge for Michigan Democrats at a time of upheaval, as they will probably have to split their strong bench between the 2026 Senate and gubernatorial contests.
“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 Detroit News in an interview published Tuesday.
“And that goes back to 2008 when I first won that House seat. I thought it would be for a matter of a few terms that I would serve, and then I would go back to private life. I want to be very clear: I’m not retiring. I’m just not running for reelection in the Senate. I hope, God willing, I have a lot more good years ahead,” Peters added.
“After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and then turn over the reins,” Peters said in a YouTube video. “I will therefore not seek reelection in 2026.”
After President Donald Trump won Michigan in the 2024 election, Peters’ choice makes it more difficult for Democrats to retake the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, by forcing them to defend a crucial Senate seat in Michigan without the benefit of an incumbent.
Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. transportation secretary who recently relocated to Michigan, is anticipated to be one of the names most frequently mentioned for the role.
BREAKING: Democratic Senator Gary Peters (MI) has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026. pic.twitter.com/gHJkVqvoNH
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) January 28, 2025
