Michigan's Gary Peters won't run for US Senate reelection next year
Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan on Tuesday announced he will not run for a third six-year term next year, meaning the state will have an open U.S. Senate seat for the second time in two years.
Peters' campaign staff put out a release and a video from the senator announcing his decision, with Peters saying, "At this point in my life, I have been able to write many different chapters, and I look forward to the new ones with both anticipation and excitement."
The announcement is expected to reverberate through Michigan politics, giving Republicans a chance, once again, to capture a U.S. Senate seat in the state, something the Party has not done since former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham won a single term in 1994.
It also comes, however, at a time when some top Democrats could be strong candidates, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is term limited, and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a former presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana, mayor, who is giving consideration to a potential run.
Two sources familiar with Buttigieg's thinking said he is taking a serious look at Peters' seat. “Pete is exploring all of his options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve,” one source said. Buttigieg has a residence in Traverse City.
The open seat also comes as Republicans have closed the gap considerably in the state when running for the U.S. Senate. In 2020, Peters beat Republican businessman John James, who is now a congressman representing parts of Oakland and Macomb counties, by less than 2 percentage points; last year, former U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, beat Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake by about three-tenths of a percentage point.
Peters' decision was first reported exclusively by The Detroit News.
In his statement, Peters said, "I always knew there would come a time to pass the torch to the next generation of public servants and allow them the opportunity to bring fresh energy and ideas to our nation’s capital," echoing a phrase former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., used when she announced in January 2023 that she would not run for another term.
Slotkin, who captured Stabenow's seat last year, is now set to become Michigan's senior senator when Peters leaves office in January 2027.
“Gary Peters is a true public servant who has devoted his life to making Michigan and our country better. I join millions of Michiganders in appreciating him for his decades of public service to our state and our nation," Slotkin said, adding that he "enjoys a reputation as a no-nonsense, bipartisan legislator." Peters has also been cited as one of the most effective legislators in the Senate in recent Congresses in terms of bills passed.
Before former President Joe Biden left office, he signed into law legislation Peters introduced ensuring military families could continue to be buried together in Department of Veterans Affairs cemeteries. He also last year helped secure additional funding for a northern border security center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.
"Sen. Gary Peters is a longtime friend and committed public servant. We've worked together on the issues that matter to Michigan — including PFAS, clean water, keeping our auto industry and local manufacturing strong and resilient, and upgrading our infrastructure," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, who with Peters' departure stands to become the longest-serving Democrat in the state's congressional delegation. "Our state is better thanks to his service, and I wish him the best in what he decides to do next."
Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist issued a statement calling Peters "a steadfast champion for Michigan."
While Peters, in his video, said simply it was time for him to leave — and mentioned the birth of a grandson last year as "a joy so great it is difficult to express" — Republicans suggested Peters would be facing a tough reelection cycle. "Gary Peters is reading the room," said U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, who is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect GOP senators.
Peters led the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the last two election cycles and was credited with helping to retain the Democratic majority in the Senate after the 2022 elections. In last year's elections, however, Democratic incumbents in Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania lost and Republicans regained the majority.
Peters, 66, of Bloomfield Township, was first elected to the U.S. House in 2008, when he defeated Republican former Rep. Joe Knollenberg. He served three two-year terms in the House before being elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding the late U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who did not run for reelection in 2014. Peters was the only Democratic newcomer to win election to the Senate that year.
Prior to running for Congress, Peters was a member of the Rochester Hills City Council, a state senator and lottery commissioner under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
In the Senate, Peters rose to become chairman — and now ranking member — of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of both the Armed Services and Appropriations committees.
“I have two more years remaining in my current term and there is more work to do. I intend to continue my work on issues important to all Michiganders by working to lower costs, make sure everyone has the opportunity to succeed, feel safe in their community, and protect core American democratic values," Peters said.
This story was updated to add new information.
USA Today staff writer Joey Garrison contributed to this story. Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.