After Sen. Gary Peters' surprise announcement, Michigan Republicans are hoping for their first Senate win in the 21st century.

LANSING — Second-term U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan announced Tuesday that he will not run for reelection, opening the seat for a successor in 2026. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, has represented the battleground state since 2015.

The decision by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters not to run for a third term set off a political earthquake, igniting buzz about who could get into the race.

Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters' retirement announcement on Tuesday generated speculation about which Democrats could run to replace him in next year's Senate race.

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.

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 major political parties.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Sen. Gary Peters will not run for reelection, opening a key Senate race in 2026.