Democratic United States Senator Gary Peters announced his retirement this week, stating he will not run for reelection in 2026. He is a well-known figure in Michigan politics, serving in his first elected office in 1991 as a Rochester Hills City Councilman.
Public Service:
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- Senator Peters was elected to the United States Senate in 2015.
- He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
- He also serves on the Appropriations Committee, Armed Services Committee, and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
- Prior to that, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 2009 – 2015
- He was elected to the Michigan Senate in 1994 and served two terms.
- Governor Granholm appointed him State Lottery Commissioner in 2003, a role he held for five years.
- Senator Peters was elected to the United States Senate in 2015.
2026 Election:
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- The open U.S. Senate seat in 2024 was one of the most highly contested and costliest races in the nation.
- This race will likely be highly competitive, and many candidates are already floating the idea of running.
- This will be a big election year for state government additionally, with the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state races all open, in addition to the election of all 110 House seats and 38 Senate seats.
