Democrat senator Gary Peters Tuesday announced that he won’t be running in the 2026 midterms from battleground Michigan seat. The announcement is crucial as it is opening for Republicans in a state that President Donald Trump won in November. “I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation,” Peters said. “I also never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life,” said Peters. He has been a senator since 2015.
“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 said.
Axios reported that Gare Peter’s exit opens up the door for former transport secretary Pete Buttigieg who is already taking a serious look at running. But there’s also likely to be much interest among Republicans, who narrowly lost the 2024 race for former Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s open seat.
“Gary Peters is reading the room,” NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said in a statement. “Michigan is better off without him. We’re committed to giving them a fighter that will stand with President Trump to restore the economic prosperity and security of our country.”
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, plus the tie-breaking vice presidency. Peters’ retirement in a state Donald Trump has twice won narrowly (and lost once) could add another degree of difficulty to his party’s efforts to win the majority.
