Two-term Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters will not be running for reelection in 2026 to defend one of the most competitive Senate seats nationwide this upcoming midterm cycle.
Peters, 66, is leaving Washington to spend more time with his family after a long career as a congressman and senator from one of America’s preeminent swing states.
“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.”
Peters clarified that he is not retiring from politics but is simply deciding not to run for reelection to the Senate. His priority is to finish off the final two years of his Senate term rather than running for governor of Michigan or another elected office.
“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 stated.
As ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, Peters will continue to work on issues including border security, cyber security, and emergency management.
A powerful Democrat, Peters is the first Michigan senator in decades to serve on the appropriations committee. He has also served on the Senate Armed Services and Commerce Committees, with the latter being an important position for Michigan’s auto industry.
Last time around, Peters won narrowly in 2020 against businessman and veteran John James, who is now a multi-term congressman in a competitive seat. Peters chaired the Democratic Senate campaign arm the last two cycles as his party lost its majority in 2024.
With Peter’s seat opening up, Michigan will have a toss-up Senate seat for the second straight election cycle. In 2024, Democratic congresswoman Elissa Slotkin defeated former congressman Mike Rogers to replace longtime Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) in a swing-state that President Donald Trump won over former vice president Kamala Harris.
“I’m confident the seat will stay Democratic, and I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure that that is indeed the case,” Peters said.
“We’ve got a lot of young, dynamic folks who can run for this office, who have distinguished themselves, so I suspect there’ll be a number of folks who will be interested. I’ll encourage them to run. But I know that there’s no shortage of talent.”
Michigan’s gubernatorial seat and other important statewide offices will be up for grabs in 2026. The state will continue to have toss-up congressional seats at play and competitive elections to determine which party controls its state legislature.
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer is a nationally-recognized Democrat whose name is routinely mentioned in potential presidential candidates for the party moving forward. Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg is also a Michigan resident, having moved to the state from nearby Indiana after serving as mayor of South Bend.