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.

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 Sen. Gary Peters has announced he will retire at the end of his term. The 66-year-old Democrat revealed Tuesday that he won’t seek re-election in 2026, saying he wants to move on to a “new chapter” by spending more time with family and riding his Harley Davidson down “winding roads.