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.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) released a statement and video to announce he will not seek reelection in 2026. Below are excerpts from his statement. For the full statement, click here.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) was honored with the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award.

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.

The 119th United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. New members were elected on November 5, 2024. The 119th Congress convened on ...

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who led the Democrats’ Senate campaign efforts the past two election cycles, has announced he will not seek a third term in 2026, creating a highly contested battleground seat expected to be coveted by both major political parties.

After a competitive Michigan Senate race during the 2024 election, 2026 is now shaping up to be another high-stakes cycle.