U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) recently announced
his candidacy to replace Carl Levin (D-Detroit) in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Levin,
who has represented Michigan since 1979, announced in March he would not seek a
seventh Senate term.
Peters
was first elected to Congress in 2008, after beating U.S. Representative Joe
Knollenberg. In 2012, his district was eliminated
due to redistricting. Peters subsequently switched to the 14th
Congressional District and defeated former U.S. Rep Hansen Clarke in the
primary. While in Congress, Peters has served on the House Financial Services
Committee and House Small Business Committee. He also served in the Michigan
Senate and as the Michigan Lottery Commissioner under Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Peters also unsuccessfully ran for attorney general in 2002.
At this time, the Republican
field remains unclear. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Brighton), chairman of the U.S.
House Intelligence Committee, libertarian-leaning U.S. Rep. Justin Amash
(R-Cascade Twp), and former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land are all considering
a bid.
Discussions have also begun on potential Democratic candidates
to replace Peters in the 14th Congressional District. Former U.S.
Rep. Hansen Clarke, former state Senator Buzz Thomas, Sen. Vincent Gregory
(D-Southfield), Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) and House Minority Floor
Leader Rudy Hobbs (D-Lathrup Village) are just a few of the individuals who
could decide to run for this seat.