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 Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, leaving Congress at the end of his second term and opening up a highly competitive battleground Senate seat.

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.

Democratic Michigan Senator Gary Peters has announced he will not seek a third term in 2026, giving Republicans a top target in a state likely to become a major midterm battleground. Peters, who won reelection in 2020 by a narrow margin of less than 2 points, surprised many with his decision.

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

LANSING, Mich. -- 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 highly coveted by both parties.

Michigan ’s senior Democratic senator announced on Tuesday that he won’t seek re-election in 2026, setting up what will likely be a fierce competition in a state Donald Trump won last year. Sen. Gary Peters, who first won his seat in 2014, revealed his retirement and shared how he came to that decision in a video.

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.

Welcome to the first, ahem, serving of Whole-Hog Politics, a weekly note that aims to give you a quick and useful overview of the political scene. Why Whole Hog? Well, first off, barbecue is delicious.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters announced this week he will not seek a third term in 2026. The surprise announcement poses a challenge for Michigan democrats.

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