Pete Buttigieg is looking into a potential Senate run in 2026 in Michigan, which was won by President Donald Trump in 2024.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, of Michigan, announced Tuesday that he will not run for a third six-year term in 2026 leaving an open Senate seat.

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 former Transportation Secretary is reportedly considering a run for one of Michigan’s U.S. Senate seats in 2026.

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.

President Donald Trump attacks former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at press conference. Buttigieg responds on X.

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, leaving Congress at the end of his second term and opening up a highly competitive battleground Senate seat.

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.

Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said he’s considering another run for Senate in 2026 after incumbent Sen. Gary Peters (D) made a surprise announcement that he won’t seek another term. Rogers, who lost the Michigan Senate race in November to now-Sen.

Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R), who narrowly lost his Michigan Senate race in November, on Thursday indicated he’s ready to try again.

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is preparing to enter the race for U.S. Senate in Michigan just months after the Republican lost narrowly to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.