U.S. Sen. Gary Peters announced Tuesday that he’s not running for a third term, leaving a crucial seat up for grabs in 2026.
The 66-year-old Michigan Democrat, who has served in the Senate since 2015, said in a statement that it’s time to “pass the torch to the next generation of public servants.”
“I have always believed that American democracy can only remain healthy and vibrant when every citizen takes an active role in strengthening their community,” Peters said.
He added, “After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and turn over the reins.”
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.
Even before his announcement, the path for Democrats to reclaim the Senate in 2026 is a narrow one. Republicans currently control 53, so Democrats would need to regain four seats to take over the chamber.
Last year, Democrats managed to retain Michigan’s other Senate seat when former U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin narrowly defeated Republican Mike Rogers, winning by about 0.3 percentage points, or fewer than 20,000 votes.
Peters, who also served in the U.S. House from 2009 to 2015, has spent decades in public office, beginning as a Rochester Hills city councilman in 1991. He also served two terms as a Michigan state senator from 1995 to 2002.
Peters was also a Navy Reserve veteran who volunteered for active duty after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“My service in the Congress has been the honor of my life,” Peters said. “It has been a humbling responsibility given to me by the voters of the state I love. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I believe my work has left our country a better place.”
After his retirement announcement, Slotkin called Peters “a true public servant who has devoted his life to making Michigan and our country better.”
“In the Senate, Gary enjoys a reputation as a no-nonsense, bipartisan legislator,” Slotkin said. “As a veteran himself, he fought tirelessly for those we served. One of his legacies on the Armed Services Committee and as Chairman and Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee is protecting our northern border and cementing the critical role of the Northern Border Mission Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.”
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell also called Peters “a longtime friend and committed public servant.”
“Our state is better thanks to his service, and I wish him the best in what he decides to do next," Dingell said.
Peters said he doesn’t plan to be inactive after retiring from his seat.
“I am leaving Congress, but I am not retiring,” Peters said. “I look forward to writing many more chapters when my term ends. I do not know what those chapters will be, but I expect one of them will be me finding endless twisting back roads where I can experience the joy of total freedom riding my Harley Davidson motorcycle on a warm sunny day.”
