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

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters won’t run for re-election in Michigan in 2026, creating a pivotal open Senate seat in one of the most tightly divided battleground states in the U.S.

Local entities are asking Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to call a special election to fill the 35th District State Senate seat vacated by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet after her election to the U.S. Congress.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s renewed request for the Department of Justice’s case file on President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election has gone unanswered,

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.

The lawmakers’ statement comes a day after mid-Michigan chambers of commerce also issued a joint statement urging the governor to hold a special election.

Since election season never truly ends anymore, the political jockeying for 2026 is well underway in Michigan. Thanks to term limits, the Mitten State will have every executive office open, as well as a U.

Aghogho Edevbie announced Monday he would seek to replace Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson when her second term expires at the end of next year.

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.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters says he thinks it’s time to turn over the reins so he won’t be seeking a third term in 2026

It certainly appears Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is playing partisan politics by not scheduling a special election in Michigan’s 35th senate district.