With the surprise announcement of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., to not seek 2026 reelection, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is lining up for a run for the seat, while Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a potential 2028 democrat presidential candidate, is not.
"Pete is exploring all of his options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve," one source close to Buttigieg told Axios on Tuesday.
"He's honored to be mentioned for this, and he's taking a serious look."
Buttigieg moved to Michigan in recent years.
This is the second consecutive cycle in which Democrats must navigate the challenge of defending an open Senate seat in Michigan, a state won by Republican Donald Trump in the presidential contest in 2024.
Longtime Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., shocked many observers by announcing she would not seek a fifth term in 2024. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., held that seat for the party by a narrow margin.
On the Republican side, Tudor Dixon is a strong GOP voice in Michigan politics and could be a favorite for President Donald Trump's endorsement for a prospective 2026 Senate run in the GOP primary field.
Also, former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who just lost a run against Slotkin last year, could give it another go. Rep. John James, R-Mich., who narrowly lost to Peters in 2020 and has been floated as a gubernatorial candidate, could also jump in the race.
Buttigieg oversaw massive supply chain issues, train derailments, and airline troubles around flight delays and Boeing safety issues during his time in the Biden administration, getting widely panned by conservatives as an ineffective cabinet member under President Joe Biden.
Buttigieg once had presidential aspirations, having competed in the 2020 Democrat primary until Biden was handed the reins a few states into the race by debuting and winning Super Tuesday.
Whitmer was considered a potential running mate for Biden, but has remained in Michigan and has been bandied about as a potential 2028 Democrat primary candidate, perhaps the reason she is reportedly declining to consider a 2026 Senate run.
Multiple House Democrats from Michigan are weighing runs for Peters' seat, Axios reported.
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.
The 66-year-old's unexpected decision Tuesday to step aside after just two terms comes as a surprise and poses a challenge for Democrats in Michigan during a turbulent period, likely dividing their strong bench between the gubernatorial and Senate races in 2026.
"After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and then turn over the reins," Peters said in a YouTube video. "I will therefore not seek reelection in 2026."
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 regain control of the chamber, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced after the 2024 election that he is running for governor as an independent. Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican leader of the state Senate Aric Nesbitt have launched campaigns as well.
Another potential candidate may be state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat whose profile has risen thanks to a viral floor speech she gave in 2022.
Information from The Associated Press was used to compile this report.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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