Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, of Michigan, announced Tuesday that he will not run for a third six-year term in 2026 leaving an open Senate seat.
Democrat Gary Peters' announcement means Michigan will have an open U.S. Senate seat for the second time in two years.
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters says he thinks it's time to turn over the reins so he won't be seeking a third term in 2026.
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.
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters won’t run for re-election in Michigan in 2026, creating a pivotal open Senate seat in one of the most tightly divided battleground states in the U.S.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) announced on Tuesday that he will not seek reelection next year, dealing a blow to Democrats in a key battleground state. Peters made the decision official in an
Washington ― Gary Peters, Michigan’s senior senator and a former congressman, said he won’t seek reelection next year and will retire from the U.S. Senate when his second term ends in January 2027.
After getting elected to the Senate in 2014, Peters narrowly won his second term by a margin of 1.7%. His decision to step down opens the door for a highly contested Senate race in 2026, when Michigan residents will also be voting for a new governor.
Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin said Trump didn’t follow the law when he removed 18 inspectors general last Friday.
They will need to defend an open seat in a battleground state that President Trump carried in 2024. And Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ruled out a run.
On the heels of former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) retiring, newly minted Michigan senior U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, opening the field for what will likely be another hotly contested Senate race.
For the first time since announcing he won't run for reelection, FOX 2 is hearing from Michigan U.S. Senator Gary Peters.