Democratic Senator Gary Peters announced he will not seek re-election in 2026, paving the way for another key U.S. Senate race in Michigan. Peters, who has served in the Senate since 2014, cited a desire to move on to a new chapter and allow for the next generation to take leadership. This decision comes after Democrats defended an open Senate seat in 2024, with Elissa Slotkin defeating Republican Mike Rogers. The 2026 election in Michigan is shaping up to be highly consequential, with all three statewide offices and both chambers of the state legislature also on the ballot.
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters from Michigan announced that he will not seek re-election when his term expires in January 2027, setting the stage for another crucial U.S. Senate race. Peters made the announcement on his YouTube channel. The 66-year-old senator was first elected to the Senate in 2014, succeeding retiring Sen. Carl Levin. He defeated Republican Terri Lynn Land in that election and secured re-election in 2020 in a tight contest against current Rep. John James.
Peters told The Detroit News, which was the first to report his decision not to seek re-election, that he is ready to transition out of public service and embark on a new chapter. '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 stated to The Detroit News. '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.' Peters emphasized that while he is leaving Congress, he is not retiring and intends to actively campaign for his successor. He has a longstanding history in Michigan politics, having served in the Michigan Senate from 1995 to 2002, the U.S. House from 2009 to 2015, and then the U.S. Senate.Born in Pontiac and a graduate of Rochester High School and Alma College, Peters currently holds the position of the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. 'I am leaving Congress, but I am not retiring. I look forward to writing many more chapters when my term ends. I do not know what those chapters will be, but I expect one of them will be me finding endless twisting back roads where I can experience the joy of total freedom riding my Harley Davidson motorcycle on a warm sunny day,' Peters expressed in his announcement. This development comes after Democrats have to defend an open Senate seat for the consecutive year, following Elissa Slotkin's victory over Republican Mike Rogers in the 2024 election for a seat vacated by retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow. This sets the stage for another significant race in 2026 in Michigan, a crucial battleground state. All three of the state's top offices — governor, attorney general, and secretary of state — will be up for grabs, along with the State House and State Senate. Three individuals have already declared their candidacy for governor: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent; State Sen. Aris Nesbitt is running as a Republican; and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running as a Democrat.
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