Sen. Gary Peters surprise departure means back-to-back open Senate seats for Michigan but this one could be a much different kind of election.

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 major political parties.

His unexpected retirement in the battleground states comes in an already difficult Senate cycle for Democrats.

The Democratic former transportation secretary lives in Traverse City and could run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Gary Peters.

Sen. Gary Peters’ announcement that he will not seek another term triggered speculation and announcements from contenders aiming to win the seat in the hotly contested swing state

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters’s (D) unexpected decision to not seek another term in 2026 has scrambled what was already expected to be a closely fought race in a key battleground. Democrats knew that next year’s Senate race in the Great Lakes State was going to be fierce,