Democratic Sen. Gary Peters won’t run for re-election in battleground Michigan

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced Tuesday that he won’t run for re-election in Michigan in 2026, creating a pivotal open-seat election next year in one of the most tightly divided swing states in the U.S.

Peters made the announcement in an interview with The Detroit News, where he said he wouldn’t resign but won’t seek re-election because he “never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life.”

“I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation,” he told the paper.

“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.”

Peters also released a video and press release announcing his decision.

Peters’ decision will have implications for the fight for control of the Senate in two years and, potentially, for Michigan’s closely watched race for governor. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, plus the tie-breaking vice presidency. Peters’ retirement in a state President Donald Trump has twice won narrowly (and lost once) could add another degree of difficulty to his party’s efforts to win the majority.

Peters has repeatedly faced tough election fights in the competitive state. So while his race would have likely been competitive if he decided to run again, the open race only raises the likelihood of a competitive Senate election in Michigan next year, when it could be one of the top battlegrounds on the Senate map next year.

It’s unclear who might run to replace Peters from either party. To the extent people in Michigan were looking forward to 2026 elections already, much of the attention in the state has been focused right now on the wide open race for governor, since two-term Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited.

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the only major Democrat in the race for governor right now while Michigan state Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is the only major GOP candidate in the race. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat, left the party and is mounting an independent bid.

But many potential candidates on both sides of the aisle were expected to consider running for governor. It’s possible this opening could sway some of those politicians to decide to mount a Senate bid instead. 

Peters told The Detroit News he wouldn’t run for another public office in 2026 and is focused on finishing his Senate term.