U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg meets with apprentices and union members during a tour of the IBEW Local 153 training facility on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in South Bend.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is reportedly “taking a serious look” at running for U.S. Senate seat in the battleground state of Michigan in 2026, Axios writes. The seat will be available following the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) at the end of his term. Trump won the state in 2024.
The publication quoted an anonymous “person close to Buttigieg” as saying, “Pete is exploring all of his options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve. He’s honored to be mentioned for this and he’s taking a serious look.” The article leaves unclear who initially mentioned Buttigieg as a possible candidate for the seat.
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Peters announced his retirement to The Detriot News on Tuesday, saying, “I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation.” Peters was elected to the U.S. House in 2008 and served there until his election to the Senate in 2014, where he has served ever since.
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The seat is highly desired by Republicans who see a chance to flip it in the red state. When Peters last ran for re-election in 2020, he won the seat over his Republican opponent by just 92,335 votes — a margin of 3.3%. Michigan’s other Senator Elissa Slotkin won her 2024 election over her Republican opponent by just 21,725 votes — a margin of 0.8%.
“Gary Peters is reading the room,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said in a statement. “Michigan is better off without him. We’re committed to giving them a fighter that will stand with President Trump to restore the economic prosperity and security of our country.”
In a Tuesday post on X, Buttigieg mentioned that “Peters has served with great integrity, focus, and expertise,” adding, “It was a pleasure working with him as Secretary to deliver good policies for our country and key transportation projects in Michigan. Thankful for his leadership, and wishing him and Colleen all the best.”
Senator Gary Peters has served with great integrity, focus, and expertise. It was a pleasure working with him as Secretary to deliver good policies for our country and key transportation projects in Michigan. Thankful for his leadership, and wishing him and Colleen all the best.
After leaving his role as Transportation Secretary, Buttigieg announced that he would live in Michigan to raise his two twin children alongside his husband, Chasten Buttigieg. Pete Buttigieg said he’s looking at possibly enrolling into Northwestern Michigan College, a local community college, to get his pilot’s lisence under its flight program.
Pete Buttigieg may also be eyeing a run to become Michigan’s next governor after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer finishes her term-limited tenure in 2026. Whitmer has said that she will not run for Peters’ empty Senate seat.
Pete Buttigieg could help win the Senate seat due to his notoreity. He has impressed political observers with his direct style and willingness to face conservative interviewers. He would likely be able to attract large donors to what would likely be an expensive Senate race and has gained a large swath of Democratic support as a major campaign surrogate for former Presidential nominee Kamala Harris during the 2024 national elections.
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