Michigan senator Gary Peters (D.) announced he will not seek a third term, creating a prime opportunity for Republicans to pick up the battleground state even as former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg weighs a bid.
Peters, who led Senate Democrats’ campaign efforts in the past two election cycles, plans to leave public office when his term ends in January 2027, the Detroit News reported.
The Michigan senator’s surprise decision deals a blow to Democrats’ hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority, forcing them to defend a critical Michigan seat without the advantage of an incumbent. While Republicans lost the last three Senate races in Michigan, the gap has narrowed from 6.5 points in 2018 to only 0.3 points in 2024. President Donald Trump flipped the battleground state in 2024.
Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) said in a statement that Peters is “reading the room” following Trump’s victory in the state. Republicans are committed to giving Michiganders “a fighter that will stand with President Trump to restore the economic prosperity and security of our country,” Scott said.
Buttigieg, meanwhile, is “taking a serious look” at running for the open seat and “exploring all of his options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve,” a person close to Buttigieg said, according to Axios. Buttigieg, who was born in South Bend, Ind., and served from 2012 to 2020 as the city’s mayor, moved to Michigan in 2022. He is also reportedly considering a run for the state’s governor.
Peters, first elected to the Senate in 2014 following three terms in the House of Representatives, chaired the Senate Homeland Security Committee from 2021 to 2025 and is now the committee’s ranking member.
