Michigan Senator Gary Peters, who spearheaded the Democrats' Senate campaign efforts in the last two election cycles, has declared that he will not run for a third term in 2026. This decision has set the stage for a highly contested battleground seat that is expected to draw significant interest from both political parties.
The 66-year-old Senator's unexpected announcement on Tuesday to step down after serving just two terms has caught many by surprise and presents a challenge for Michigan Democrats during a tumultuous period. This move is likely to split the party's strong candidate pool between the gubernatorial and Senate races in 2026.
With Michigan going to the Republicans in the 2024 presidential race, Peters' decision puts Democrats in the position of defending a crucial Senate seat in Michigan without the advantage of an incumbent. This complicates their efforts to regain control of the Senate in 2026, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority. Among the top contenders for the vacant seat is Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. Transportation Secretary who has recently relocated to Michigan.
This marks the second consecutive election cycle in which Democrats must navigate the challenge of defending an open Senate seat in Michigan, a state that was won by Donald Trump in 2024. Longtime Senator Debbie Stabenow surprised many when she announced she would not seek a fifth term in 2024. Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin narrowly retained that seat for the party by a margin of fewer than 20,000 votes.
Peters, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014 after serving three terms in the U.S. House, is known for his mild-mannered and moderate approach to politics. In addition to leading the Senate Democrats' campaign efforts from 2021 until earlier this year, he also chaired the Senate Homeland Security Committee from 2021 to 2025 and currently serves as the ranking member on the committee.
Peters received accolades from many Democrats for his role in the party's strong performance in the 2022 midterms, where they won several closely contested races to maintain control of the Senate. However, two years later, Republicans managed to flip several highly competitive seats, resulting in Democrats losing their majority in the upper chamber.
The Detroit News was the first to report Peters' decision.
