Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is taking a "serious look" at running for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan in 2026, a source told Spectrum News' Taylor Popielarz.
The seat’s current incumbent, two-term Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, announced Tuesday he will not seek a third term in the state that President Donald Trump won in 2016 and 2024 and President Joe Biden won in 2020.
What You Need To Know
- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is taking a "serious look" at running for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan in 2026, a source told Spectrum News
- The seat’s current incumbent, two-term Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, announced Tuesday he will not seek a third term
- One major Michigan Democrat has said she is not interested: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
- A former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, Buttigieg moved his family to his husband Chasten’s hometown of Traverse City, Mich., in 2022, citing a desire to be closer to his in-laws
"Pete is exploring all of his options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve," a source familiar with the recently departed transportation secretary’s thinking said. "He's honored to be mentioned for this, and he's taking a serious look."
Buttigieg declined to run for an open Senate seat in Michigan last year after Sen. Debbie Stabenow retired.
While there is no shortage of contenders to replace Peters, 66 — who explained his decision by citing desires to pass the torch to a new generation, to spend time with a new grandchild on the West Coast and to ride his Harley Davidson on “endless, winding roads” in an interview with the Detroit News — one major Michigan Democrat has said she is not interested: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is term limited and oft-discussed as a presidential candidate as Democrats look ahead to 2028. Buttigieg has also been having discussions with Democrats in the state about running to replace Whitmer, according to The Associated Press.
“Governor Whitmer is grateful for Senator Peters’ service. She is proudly serving the people of Michigan as governor and is not running for this seat in the Senate,” a spokesperson for her political action committee said in a statement.
The 43-year-old Buttigieg is also a possible 2028 presidential contender after reportedly being considered as a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris last year. The Harvard and Oxford graduate and retired Navy Reserve intelligence officer positioned himself for a Cabinet position in the Biden administration on the back of an improbable Democratic presidential primary run.
Buttigieg finished in the top two spots in Iowa and New Hampshire, the opening contests of the 2020 primary, as a candidate whose prior political experience was limited to two terms as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana — with a population just north of 100,000 — and an unsuccessful 2010 run for Indiana state treasurer.
“I will find ways to make myself useful, and maybe that’s running for office, and maybe that’s not. I’ll take the next few weeks and months to work through that,” Buttigieg said in a New Hampshire talk radio appearance last month, adding he would likely return to the early primary state. “I’m sure I’ll turn up before too long.”
Buttigieg moved his family to his husband Chasten’s hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, in 2022, citing a desire to be closer to his in-laws. The former transportation secretary, who served the entirety of Biden’s term, changed his voter registration to the state that year.
“Senator Gary Peters has served with great integrity, focus, and expertise," Buttigieg said in a statement Tuesday. "It was a pleasure working with him as secretary to deliver good policies for our country and key transportation projects in Michigan."