Saugatuck, Mich. (AP) — Former Transport Secretary Pete Buttigigue has announced he will not seek an open US Senate seat in Michigan.
Since his role in the Biden administration ended in late January, Buttigieg has spent several months taking into account his next move. However, many of the well-known allies he consulted believed they could not realistically pursue Senate seats while leaving the door open for the 2028 presidential run.
“I’m deeply concerned about who Michigan will elect as governor next year and send it to the US Senate, but I’ve opposed to competing with either race,” Battigieg said on social media Thursday, adding that he has no plans to leave for any office in 2026.
The decision opens the Michigan race widely on behalf of Democrat Sen. Gary Peters, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election in 2026. Michigan is one of three pick-up opportunities for purple Republicans. In addition to Peters, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith and New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen have announced they will not seek re-election.
Michigan Sen. Mallory McMorrow is set to announce a democratic bid for the Senate in April, according to two sources with first-hand knowledge. She rose to national prominence after a fiery floor speech in 2022, then cemented herself as one of Michigan’s most famous Democrats, including a speech at last year’s Democratic National Convention. She teased the announcement on social media on Thursday, saying, “We’ll share more soon.”
Other Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, are considering potential operations. Mike Rodgers is set to run again with less than 1 percentage point last fall, but the Republican has not been elected to Michigan’s Senate.
Buttigieg’s decision could undermine Democrats’ chances of maintaining their Senate seats in 2026, but could also intensify the party’s search for new national leaders to counter President Donald Trump.
Read more: Do it for the Senate or President? Buttigieg has a big impact on the Democrats and is focused on decisions
Buttigieg first ran for president in 2020 as the lesser-known mayor of South Bend, Indiana, outperforming Democrats who are far more experienced in Iowa Presidential Party. He was later dropped from the presidential election and was elected by Biden as his U.S. Secretary of Transport.
Widely regarded as one of the party’s most effective communicators, Buttigieg boasts a massive social media, national donor networks, and Midwest charm that resonates with both Fox News Channel interviews and in a more intimate setting. Now living in Traverse City, Michigan, Buttigieg is rapidly building connections in his new home state. This could be a major swing state and one of the nation’s first presidential primary elections.
Buttigieg wrote in a post on the publishing platform Substack, which he had planned for the coming months to spend time “engaging both legacy and digital media to serve the politics of everyday life rooted in the values of freedom, security and democracy.”
“You can meet me on familiar and new platforms, develop this vision and discuss with fellow Americans what you need most from your government or country,” writes Buttigieg.
