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

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.

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

Two-term Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters will not be running for reelection in 2026 to defend one of the most competitive Senate seats nationwide this upcoming midterm cycle. Peters, 66, is leaving Washington to spend more time with his family after a long career as a congressman and senator from one of America’s preeminent swing states.

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)

The surprise decision Tuesday again complicates for Democrats in Michigan, who will be forced to defend an open seat in the battleground state for the second straight election cycle. Peters led the Democrats' Senate campaign efforts from 2021 to 2025 and helped the party hold control of the chamber in 2022 before Republicans flipped it last year.

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.

Michigan Democratic Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters voted alongside the majority of senators to approve the Laken Riley Act earlier this week. The bill, which was approved both in the Senate and House on Monday and Wednesday,

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday voted to advance Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, to the floor. The 14-13 vote was strictly along party

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem on Saturday as the next secretary of Homeland Security, which has a lead role in immigration enforecment.