MI-Sen 2026: Peters retiring

[Roll Roons]

James is running for Senate:

https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00651208/1873178

Are you sure this isn't his committee from his previous Senate campaigns?

[windjammer]

James is running for Senate:

https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00651208/1873178

I'm really surprised. I thought he would have fun for reelection to get his 3 terms and so the pension

[Spectator]

James is running for Senate:

https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00651208/1873178

Are you sure this isn't his committee from his previous Senate campaigns?

Filed 1/31/2025. I think this is the right move for him personally. He’s probably unlikely to hold onto his House seat, but could win a Senate race if Dems are stupid enough to nominate a brazen carpetbagger who transparently only wants to use the state to win the Presidency.

[Pericles]

John James is about to attain perennial candidate status.

[Talleyrand]

What was the 2024 Presidential margin in MI-10?

[Big Zuck]

What was the 2024 Presidential margin in MI-10?

According to Wikipedia, Trump carried it by 52.2-45.7.

[Big Zuck]

Good for Mike Rogers on getting the coveted Newt Gingrich endorsement.

https://twitter.com/newtgingrich/status/1884630189470253481

[ShadowRocket]

I'm kind of surprised that James isn't running for governor instead.  Seems like his chances there would be better than another Senate campaign.

[ShadowRocket]

I actually would support Mayor Pete running for senate or governor. He's a charismatic person with potential. Always liked him.

Yeah, I think people are overthinking the carpetbagging thing.  Senate races are very nationalized now to the point where it's just a partisan grudge match.  Will it hurt a little?  Sure, but probably. not enough to matter, especially if it's a blue leaning year.

Another issue to consider with carpetbagging is the region. Pete isn't a native Michigander, but from a neighboring state. So culturally, he's still a Midwesterner from the Great Lakes. It's not like Hillary Clinton living in Arkansas and then carpetbagging to New York.

Hot take?  While they hurt, I'm not sure carpetbagging attacks really have the same salience as they did once upon time.  If Buttigieg runs and loses in the primary or general, it'd be for other reasons.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Mike Rodgers came close because of the Walz weak ticket of Harris he won't come that close again. Buttigieg will win this is a D state

[Progressive Pessimist]

Thanks for making MI-10 an easier pickup now!

He'll also lose the Senate race to anyone.

[Atlas Force]

https://twitter.com/CA_Commissioner/status/1886199358082761135
https://twitter.com/CA_Commissioner/status/1886201564580151579
https://twitter.com/CA_Commissioner/status/1886201595357958181

[Spectator]

It’d be funny af if Whitmer changed her mind and got in after Buttigieg announced. If he’s gonna use the Senate seat to run for President in 2028 why can’t she? And with the added benefit of humiliating a rival.

[ProgressiveModerate]

I agree with some of the concerns people have about Buttigieg but some of this thread seems a bit overkill? From the way people are talking you'd think he's like Todd Akin levels bad. Sure he's tied to the Biden admin but was generally one of their better surrogates and in the long run you tend to develop your own brand when running for something like Senate. Especially because we're still 2 years out - by the time the 2026 elections are nearing Buttigieg's position in the Biden admin will have less relevance, and who knows by then there may even be some nostalgia for the Biden years (or at least people view his admin less harshly).

I generally feel like people have too much confidence in declaring some of these candidates as "strong" or "weak" this far out - Cooper and Kemp come to mind as other candidates I'm not sure would give Ds/Rs as big of a boost as you might think, and my hot take is actually running Cooper isn't a great idea.

[Atlas Force]

It’d be funny af if Whitmer changed her mind and got in after Buttigieg announced. If he’s gonna use the Senate seat to run for President in 2028 why can’t she? And with the added benefit of humiliating a rival.

So basically

https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/1235644012180180992

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

BUTTIGIEG for Senate then

[Existing in the context]

I agree with some of the concerns people have about Buttigieg but some of this thread seems a bit overkill? From the way people are talking you'd think he's like Todd Akin levels bad. Sure he's tied to the Biden admin but was generally one of their better surrogates and in the long run you tend to develop your own brand when running for something like Senate. Especially because we're still 2 years out - by the time the 2026 elections are nearing Buttigieg's position in the Biden admin will have less relevance, and who knows by then there may even be some nostalgia for the Biden years (or at least people view his admin less harshly).

I generally feel like people have too much confidence in declaring some of these candidates as "strong" or "weak" this far out - Cooper and Kemp come to mind as other candidates I'm not sure would give Ds/Rs as big of a boost as you might think, and my hot take is actually running Cooper isn't a great idea.

The problem with Pete running is the obivous is obvious. And as long as the obivous is obivious he will likely drag behind most of the other potential candidate. The truth is he's not from Michigan and his political career has mostly been in neighboring Indiana. It is giving HRC 2000 senate race. The question is going to take over the race unless he can effectively answer it. Is this a springboard to national politics? Especially a 2028 presidential run by being a Senator in a key battleground state.

[Spectator]

I agree with some of the concerns people have about Buttigieg but some of this thread seems a bit overkill? From the way people are talking you'd think he's like Todd Akin levels bad. Sure he's tied to the Biden admin but was generally one of their better surrogates and in the long run you tend to develop your own brand when running for something like Senate. Especially because we're still 2 years out - by the time the 2026 elections are nearing Buttigieg's position in the Biden admin will have less relevance, and who knows by then there may even be some nostalgia for the Biden years (or at least people view his admin less harshly).

I generally feel like people have too much confidence in declaring some of these candidates as "strong" or "weak" this far out - Cooper and Kemp come to mind as other candidates I'm not sure would give Ds/Rs as big of a boost as you might think, and my hot take is actually running Cooper isn't a great idea.

The problem with Pete running is the obivous is obvious. And as long as the obivous is obivious he will likely drag behind most of the other potential candidate. The truth is he's not from Michigan and his political career has mostly been in neighboring Indiana. It is giving HRC 2000 senate race. The question is going to take over the race unless he can effectively answer it. Is this a springboard to national politics? Especially a 2028 presidential run by being a Senator in a key battleground state.

Yep, ProgressiveModerate is willfully overlooking that glaring weakness. Buttigieg would be raked over the coals over it more viciously than Dr. Oz was about NJ. Pete held office in another state for chrissakes, so it’s arguably a lot worse.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

I agree with some of the concerns people have about Buttigieg but some of this thread seems a bit overkill? From the way people are talking you'd think he's like Todd Akin levels bad. Sure he's tied to the Biden admin but was generally one of their better surrogates and in the long run you tend to develop your own brand when running for something like Senate. Especially because we're still 2 years out - by the time the 2026 elections are nearing Buttigieg's position in the Biden admin will have less relevance, and who knows by then there may even be some nostalgia for the Biden years (or at least people view his admin less harshly).

I generally feel like people have too much confidence in declaring some of these candidates as "strong" or "weak" this far out - Cooper and Kemp come to mind as other candidates I'm not sure would give Ds/Rs as big of a boost as you might think, and my hot take is actually running Cooper isn't a great idea.

The problem with Pete running is the obivous is obvious. And as long as the obivous is obivious he will likely drag behind most of the other potential candidate. The truth is he's not from Michigan and his political career has mostly been in neighboring Indiana. It is giving HRC 2000 senate race. The question is going to take over the race unless he can effectively answer it. Is this a springboard to national politics? Especially a 2028 presidential run by being a Senator in a key battleground state.

Pete is trailing Harris and Newsom in Natl polls he would have to immediately run for Prez after he is elected , I doubt your pred are accurate

[wbrocks67]

I'm still not entirely convinced Buttigieg will run here at all.

[Sir Mohamed]

It’d be funny af if Whitmer changed her mind and got in after Buttigieg announced. If he’s gonna use the Senate seat to run for President in 2028 why can’t she? And with the added benefit of humiliating a rival.

I don't think he'll use a senate seat for a presidential run with just 2 years in between. Would be a different story with 4 years or a fulkl 6 year term. He basically would have to announce his candidacy just a few months into his term. The same applies to Harris; if she runs for CA-Gov, it will take her out of the presidential contest. I think that's also why Whitmer isn't running for this. She'll jump into the race for the Oval Office in 2027 when she's relieved of her duties as governor.

Pete either waits for another few years to further build up his profile or angle for the VP slot. If runs after at least 6 years in the senate, he'll bring a lot of experience to the table, having served in the executive branch twice (mayor and cabinet member) and in congress. He'd be far more experienced than Obama was in 2008.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

I'm still not entirely convinced Buttigieg will run here at all.

I am convinced he will run, why do you think we hear silence from other Ds, Pete is leading in a primary polls

[CheapDollarEra?]

Could Shawn Fain run here?

[ShadowRocket]

It’d be funny af if Whitmer changed her mind and got in after Buttigieg announced. If he’s gonna use the Senate seat to run for President in 2028 why can’t she? And with the added benefit of humiliating a rival.

I don't think he'll use a senate seat for a presidential run with just 2 years in between. Would be a different story with 4 years or a fulkl 6 year term. He basically would have to announce his candidacy just a few months into his term. The same applies to Harris; if she runs for CA-Gov, it will take her out of the presidential contest. I think that's also why Whitmer isn't running for this. She'll jump into the race for the Oval Office in 2027 when she's relieved of her duties as governor.

Pete either waits for another few years to further build up his profile or angle for the VP slot. If runs after at least 6 years in the senate, he'll bring a lot of experience to the table, having served in the executive branch twice (mayor and cabinet member) and in congress. He'd be far more experienced than Obama was in 2008.

Agreed 100%.  Running for President after only a few months in a new office isn't comparable to having already served a full term and is just now starting the second one before running for President as will likely be the case for Shapiro and Moore.

[Schumer can go f*** himself!]

Buttigieg isn’t the right pick or our best candidate, but he’s also not the dumpster fire some in this thread are pretending.  Anyone who thinks this will be nearly as bad as it was with Dr. Oz is being silly.  The carpetbagger/stepping stone attacks will be scathing and they’ll land, but Buttigieg also isn’t going to running around constantly making “Wegners” style gaffes every other day like Dr. Oz did.  Whatever else Buttigieg may or may not be, he’s a very smart guy and not one prone to constantly rubbing his least appealing traits in everyone’s face non-stop the way Dr. Oz was/is.  Honestly, one of the most effective ways Buttigieg can respond is by announcing unambiguously that if elected, he will not run for President in 2028 under any circumstances.  This would neutralize the stepping stone attack and he’s young enough that he can wait.

 In a Trump midterm, he’d almost certainly be favored over James or Rogers (assuming we still have elections).  Gretchen Whitmer, Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Hillary Scholten would all be stronger candidates.  Dana Nessel and Sarah Anthony would be weaker candidates and Heckel should be a non-starter b/c he’d likely be Joe Manchin 2.0 if elected.  My gut says that Gilchrist would also be a little weaker than Buttigieg, but there’s also an argument to be made Gilchrist is a little stronger.

I also think John James is among the more overhyped members of Congress and I think Republicans would be better off running someone else (not Rogers though)

The guy who must really be kicking himself right now is Mike Duggan.