Gary Peters

Gary Peters
Born	Gary Charles Peters 1 12, 1958
Birthplace	Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, former naval officer
Known for	U.S. Senator from Michigan (2015–present), Chair of Senate Homeland Security Committee, Chair of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Education	Alma College (B.A.), University of Detroit Mercy (J.D.), Wayne State University (M.B.A.), Michigan State University (M.A.)
Spouse(s)	Colleen Ochoa
Children	3
Awards	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Website	[https://www.peters.senate.gov Official site]

Gary Charles Peters (born December 1, 1958) is an American politician, lawyer, and former U.S. Naval Reserve officer serving as the senior United States senator from Michigan, a seat he has held since January 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Peters has built a political career spanning more than three decades, from his first election to the Rochester Hills City Council in 1991 through service in the Michigan Senate, an appointment as commissioner of the Michigan Lottery, three terms in the United States House of Representatives, and election to the Senate. Before entering politics, Peters served in the Navy Reserve for fifteen years, including a deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch, and spent over two decades as an investment advisor. He represented Michigan's 9th (later redesignated 14th) congressional district in the U.S. House from 2009 to 2015 before succeeding retiring senator Carl Levin. In 2014, Peters became the only non-incumbent Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat that election cycle. He was reelected in 2020, defeating Republican John E. James. Peters served as chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee from 2021 to 2025 and chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles. On January 28, 2025, he announced that he would not seek reelection in 2026.

Early Life

Gary Charles Peters was born on December 1, 1958, in Pontiac, Michigan. His family background was shaped by the events of World War II; his father served in the United States Army and his mother lived under Nazi occupation in France, where the two met during the war. Peters grew up in the Metro Detroit area, a region whose economy was dominated by the American automobile industry.

Peters entered public life relatively early. In 1991, he was elected to the Rochester Hills City Council, marking his first foray into elected office. In addition to his political career, Peters pursued a lengthy career in financial services, working for 22 years as an investment advisor before transitioning fully to public service.

Peters also served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1993 to 2008, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his naval service, he was assigned to a Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) unit and was deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, the U.S.-led enforcement of the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his service.

Education

Peters holds degrees from multiple Michigan institutions. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College, a small liberal arts college in central Michigan. He subsequently obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University, and a Master of Arts in political science from Michigan State University. His diverse educational background encompassing law, business, and political science informed his later work across both the private and public sectors.

Career

Michigan State Senate (1995–2002)

Peters was elected to the Michigan Senate in 1994, representing the 14th district. He took office on January 3, 1995, succeeding Jon Cisky, and served until December 31, 2002, when he was term-limited out of office. During his eight years in the Michigan Senate, Peters represented a district in the Oakland County area of southeastern Michigan.

In 2002, Peters sought the Democratic nomination for Michigan Attorney General, winning the party's primary. In the general election, he faced Republican Mike Cox in a closely contested race. Peters narrowly lost to Cox, ending his bid for statewide office.

Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery (2003–2007)

Following his loss in the attorney general race, Peters was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm as commissioner of the Michigan Lottery on April 9, 2003. He succeeded Jim Kipp in the position. Peters served as lottery commissioner until August 7, 2007, when he resigned to prepare for a run for the United States House of Representatives. He was succeeded by Scott Bowen.

U.S. House of Representatives (2009–2015)

2008 Election

In 2008, Peters ran for Michigan's 9th congressional district, challenging six-term Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg. The campaign was competitive, with both candidates airing negative advertisements. A Detroit Free Press analysis noted that some of the harshest claims in campaign advertisements on both sides stretched the truth. Peters benefited from a strong Democratic electoral environment nationally and won the seat, aided by what the Free Press described as a "Democratic wave." He succeeded Knollenberg and took office on January 3, 2009.

Tenure in the House

Peters served three terms in the U.S. House, initially representing the 9th congressional district from 2009 to 2013. Following the redistricting that occurred after the 2010 census, his district was renumbered as the 14th congressional district, which he represented from 2013 to 2015. The redrawn 14th district encompassed the eastern half of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Southfield, and Pontiac.

In Congress, Peters was named a senior whip, a leadership position within the House Democratic caucus. The appointment was reported by the Detroit Free Press in January 2013.

Peters was also involved in foreign policy matters during his House tenure. He was among more than 100 Democratic House members who joined a call led by Representative Joseph Crowley for continued support of key foreign policy initiatives.

On domestic fiscal policy, Peters at times expressed independence from his party's leadership. He was reported to have criticized Democratic leadership on spending issues, as documented by the Michigan Messenger.

Peters won reelection in 2010 despite the national Republican wave that year. He continued to represent the redrawn 14th district until 2015, when he moved to the Senate.

U.S. Senate (2015–present)

2014 Senate Election

In May 2013, long-serving Michigan senator Carl Levin announced that he would not seek reelection in 2014. Peters quickly emerged as a leading Democratic candidate for the open seat. He won the Democratic primary and the general election, making him the only non-incumbent Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in the 2014 election cycle, a year that was otherwise unfavorable for Democrats nationally. He succeeded Levin and took office on January 3, 2015.

2020 Reelection

Peters sought reelection in 2020 and faced Republican nominee John E. James, a businessman and Iraq War veteran. The race was one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the cycle and proved to be closer than many pre-election polls had predicted. Peters won reelection, securing a second term in the Senate.

Committee Assignments and Leadership

Peters has held significant committee and leadership positions in the Senate. He served as the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee from January 2019 to February 2021, succeeding Claire McCaskill in that role. When Democrats gained a Senate majority following the January 2021 Georgia runoff elections, Peters became chair of the committee, serving from February 3, 2021, to January 3, 2025, succeeding Ron Johnson in the chairmanship. Following the Republican takeover of the Senate in January 2025, Peters returned to the ranking member position, succeeding Rand Paul.

In addition to his committee work, Peters was selected to chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), the campaign arm of Senate Democrats, beginning in January 2021. He succeeded Catherine Cortez Masto in the role. Peters led the DSCC through both the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, guiding the party's Senate campaign strategy during two consecutive general elections. He was succeeded by Kirsten Gillibrand in January 2025.

As of 2025, Peters also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he is involved in drafting legislation that allocates federal funding to local, state, and national programs.

Legislative Activity

Throughout his Senate tenure, Peters has focused on a range of policy areas including homeland security, government oversight, manufacturing, workforce development, and agriculture. He has worked across party lines on several initiatives.

In 2025, Peters reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at providing states and local workforce development boards with greater flexibility to respond to regional workforce needs. He also reintroduced the SWAT Act, a bipartisan bill designed to fund research and mitigation efforts targeting the spotted-wing drosophila, an invasive fly that threatens Michigan's cherry, blueberry, and other fruit crops.

On trade policy, Peters has been active ahead of the scheduled review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). In 2025, he led a group of Democratic senators from Midwest and manufacturing states in a letter to the top U.S. trade representative outlining priorities for the USMCA review, with an emphasis on protecting American manufacturing jobs.

In fiscal policy matters, Peters voted against a continuing resolution in late 2025, citing its failure to address rising health care costs. He also released a statement on an earlier continuing resolution vote in September 2025.

Foreign Policy and National Security

Peters has engaged in foreign policy and national security issues through both his committee assignments and congressional travel. In early 2025, he participated in a bipartisan congressional delegation to Greenland, where the group sought to reinforce U.S. support for the island as a critical Arctic ally.

Retirement Announcement

On January 28, 2025, Peters announced that he would not seek reelection when his current term expires in 2026. His retirement will end more than three decades of continuous involvement in elected and appointed public office in Michigan.

Personal Life

Peters was born and raised in Pontiac, Michigan. His parents' story is rooted in World War II: his father served in the U.S. Army and his mother lived under Nazi occupation in France, where the couple met. Peters has spoken publicly about his parents' wartime experience, sharing their story in a Senate video released ahead of Valentine's Day 2025.

Peters is married to Colleen Ochoa, and the couple has three children. He has maintained his residence in Michigan throughout his political career.

In addition to his political and legal careers, Peters served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1993 to 2008, a period of fifteen years. He held the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was assigned to a Naval Construction Battalion unit. His service included deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch, and he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Recognition

Peters received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his military service in the United States Navy Reserve.

His 2014 Senate victory was notable as the only successful non-incumbent Democratic Senate campaign in a cycle that saw significant Republican gains across the country. The result drew attention from national political commentators as evidence of Peters's strength as a candidate in a competitive state.

As chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee during the 2022 and 2024 cycles, Peters held one of the highest-profile operational positions in the national Democratic Party, overseeing candidate recruitment, fundraising, and campaign strategy for Senate races across the country.

His chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee from 2021 to 2025 placed him at the center of federal government oversight, cybersecurity policy, and homeland security legislation during a period of significant national challenges.