Jan. 28 (UPI) — Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election in 2026.
Peters, who is in his second term as senator after serving in the House, told the Detroit News it was time for him to move on and never planned on making a long career out of politics on Capitol Hill.
“I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation,” Peterssaid . “I also never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life.
“And that goes back to 2008 when I first won that House seat. I thought it would be for a matter of a few terms that I would serve, and then I would go back to private life.”
In a video he released on YouTube after the story broke, Peters talked about writing a new chapter in his life, one away from politics.
“What we do becomes a unique, individual life story having many chapters,” he said in the video. “At this point in my life, I have been able to write many different chapters, and I look forward to the new ones with both anticipation and excitement.
“Our Founding Fathers envisioned members of Congress as citizens, serving their country for a few turns and then returning to a private life. I agree. I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and then turn over the reins.”
The Democrats will be under pressure to keep the seat after President Donald Trump won the state last year and Sen. Elissa Slotkin held on to defeat former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in a tight battle.
