Newsfront
Surprise Senate Retirement Could Help GOP, Trump
Gary Peters’ departure opens door in Michigan for Republican control in Trump’s second term.
A BY JOHN GIZZI
n unexpected retire- ment has set the stage for an election next year that could guarantee
GOP control of the U.S. Senate for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term in the White House. Minutes after two-term Sen. Gary
Peters, D-Mich., shocked colleagues by announcing that he would not seek reelection in 2026, jubilant Republicans throughout the Great Lakes State and in Washington, D.C., began to think in unison: “We’re here to stay!” With more Republicans than Democrats having to defend seats in 2026, a victory in Michigan, which
Trump won last November, would go a long way to insulate GOP con- trol and ensure long-term passage of Trump’s agenda. Republicans currently hold the
Senate 53-47, but Democrats see an opportunity in 2026 to flip Maine, North Carolina, and even Ohio if former Sen. Sherrod Brown can be convinced to run. The Michigan race, though, will
now be one of the most-watched con- tests next year. It will likely feature Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary in the Biden administra- tion, against one of two candidates: former Rep. Mike Rogers and cur- rent Rep. John James, both of whom narrowly lost fights for Michigan Senate seats. Political analysts say Rogers has
a good chance of becoming the first Republican senator from Michigan since 1994 because, for the first time in history, there will be no incum- bents running for sen- ator or governor in the same year. Likewise James, a nationally prominent African-American Republican, who is well liked by Trump and the MAGA base, could be a strong con- tender.
Rogers, a one- JAMES 10 NEWSMAX | MARCH 2025
time chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and radio- TV commentator, lost the closest-ever race
in Michigan’s history of popular Sen- ate elections in November to liberal Democrat Elissa Slotkin. With more than 5 million votes
cast, he was edged out by a micro- scopic 19,006 votes. Neither Rogers nor James has yet
made a formal announcement about whether they will run for Peters’ seat. Rogers has the advantage of an organization in place and a recent run in his pocket, and sources in the state tell Newsmax he’s currently the favorite for nomination. “Mike and his wife Kristi worked
so hard campaigning and lost by such a close margin, he deserves another shot at [the Senate],” former Republican Gov. John Engler said. Senate Majority Leader John
Thune, R-S.D., agreed, and recalled his own first Senate race in 2002, where he lost by 424 votes only to come back two years later and unseat then-Senate Democrat Leader Tom Daschle. “I raised money for Mike in ’24
and have spoken to him a few times since last November,” Thune told Newsmax, “and he certainly is in a strong position.” Among Democrats, Buttigieg’s announcement that he was taking a “serious look” at the Senate race has hardly electrified Michigan Demo- crats. He does not exactly have strong
roots in his adoptive state. The 2020 presidential hopeful held office in Indiana, and only recently bought a home in Michigan with husband Chasten (a native of the state).
PETERS/JEMAL COUNTESS/GETTY IMAGES FOR JDRF / JAMES/ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES
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