Democrat Gary Peters' announcement means Michigan will have an open U.S. Senate seat for the second time in two years.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters announces he won't run for reelection in 2026, prompting speculation on his replacement, with Pete Buttigieg as a potential candidate.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) is retiring, the Detroit News reported Tuesday, opening up a battleground Senate seat in the 2026 midterms. Why it matters: It's a stunning announcement for a senator who led Democrats' Senate campaigns two cycles in a row.

Having lost Michigan in the presidential race, Peters’ decision forces Democrats to defend a critical Senate seat in Michigan without the advantage of an incumbent, complicating their efforts to regai

Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters will not seek re-election to a third term when his current one expires in January 2027, leaving open a senate seat in a state Donald Trump won.

Democratic Michigan Sen. Gary Peters says he will not seek a third term in 2026, creating a highly contested battleground seat (AP video: Mike Householder)

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is eyeing a potential bid to represent Michigan in the US Senate after Democrat Gary Peters announced Tuesday he would not seek a third term, leaving open one of the most competitive seats in the 2026 cycle.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — 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 parties.

Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who spearheaded the Democratic campaign in the Senate for the previous two election cycles, has declared that he will not run for a third term in 2026, opening up a fiercely contested battleground seat that both major political parties are likely to pursue.

The news of Democratic Sen. Gary Peters not seeking reelection in 2026 is already leading to a lot of voters and experts considering what happens next in our state.

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