Pete Buttigieg looks at Michigan’s Senate race 2026

Senator Gary Peters’ decision to retire opened up a race of the Marquee Senate in Michigan, an outstanding battlefield state that President Trump turned over in November.

The announcement of this week by Mr. Peters, a democrat, triggered a number of political activities in Michigan – especially under the deep bank of his party of ambitious politicians, some of whom also consider a run for the governor.

Here is a snapshot of some people who could get into the Senate competition:

Pete Buttigieg, the former transport secretary

Mr. Buttigieg, the former presidential candidate and transport secretary, is a relatively recent transplant to Michigan, which grows up in Indiana and will be based in Michigan in 2022 and moves to traverse city.

“I have a lot of humility about having moved to Michigan a few years ago,” he said in an interview last month, asked at the time about a run for the governor. “Although of course I grew up in the neighborhood.”

According to a person with knowledge of his thinking, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private considerations, a “serious appearance” on an offer from the Senate, and added that he had “explored all of his options” on Tuesday, who insisted on Tuesday, who insisted on anonymity. .

Mr. Buttigieg will also be seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028.

What about Gretchen Whitmer?

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a democrat that was limited in 2026, quickly and colorfully removed from the dispute over Mr. Peters Seat on Tuesday.

“Three letters: NFW,” she said about “The View” and used an abbreviation for “No Way” with an expedant in the middle.

“I have a lot of things that I want to do as a governor. What comes after that? I don’t know yet, I really don’t, ”said Ms. Whitmer, who is also seen as a potential presidential candidate.

“I will never quite check out, but maybe I want to go through the earth for a while and use my family and me again,” she added.

But her lieutenant governor Garlin Gilchrist II, who has looked at an offer for the governor, is “seriously considering the Senate”, according to two people with knowledge of his thinking.

The democratic lieutenant Governors Association will undertake to spend seven figures for Mr. Gilchrist’s name if he runs for the Senate, said Kevin Holst, the executive director of the group, in a statement.

The Attorney General Dana Nessel is also subject to the conceptual limits and cannot strive for a re -election in 2026, and it is mentioned by some Democrats as a potential contender.

A number of democratic legislators

Many other democrats, including federal and state legislators, consider the race.

Mallory McMorrov, a senator of the public prosecutor who won national democratic recognition in 2022, with a speech that defended liberal values ​​and identified as “heterosexual, white, Christian, married mother”. .

“I look at a serious look at the governor and the Senate seat and plan to have many conversations in the coming days to see where I am best suited to serve Michiganders,” said Ms. McMorrow, who in one suburb Detroit lives in a text message on Tuesday.

House members who have won difficult races in the past also consider the race of the Senate, including the moderate representatives Haley Stevens from the suburb of Detroit and Hillary Scholten from the Grand Rapids area.

Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Wayne County Health Director, who was unsuccessful against Ms. Whitmer in elementary school 2018, was also able to see an offer.

What about Republicans?

Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, hired the seat in Michigan for weeks before the announcement on Tuesday.

“My phone rings on,” he said in an interview.

According to a person with knowledge of their thinking, the representative Bill Huizenga is among those who consider a run. The representative John James and the former representative Mike Rogers, who almost lost a race of the Senate last autumn, is also considered possible candidates.

Tudor Dixon, who was unsuccessful against Ms. Whitmer in 2022, is also a potential candidate for the Senate or the governor’s breed. On Tuesday, she wrote on social media that she “looked at our future very seriously”.

Kevin Rinke, a former car dealer who lost this year in primary school against Ms. Dixon, could also jump into the race.

“One thing is certain,” he wrote on Tuesday on social media. “Michigan is open to taking it. Stay tuned. “

Reid J. Epstein Reported reports.