Friday, February 21, 2025

Tina Smith And Gary Peters Out!

Democrats scramble to replace retiring senators. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) out.

Democrats face a tough road ahead. Even if President Donald J. Trump fucks up everything in the country, the Republicans will still back him or his endorsed candidates who run for office.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) are retiring. It puts two crucial seats up and it makes Republicans seek new opportunities.

Democrats are extremely unpopular.

Wonder why?

I-S-R-A-E-L

The apartheid ethnostate of Israel and the Democratic Party's continued support.

It takes a village. 

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Jeanine Shaheen (D-NH) are the most vulnerable members as of now. In 2028, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) are the most vulnerable.

In a short video posted to social media, Smith told her supporters: "I wanted you to hear directly from me that I have decided not to run for re-election to the United States Senate in 2026."

In her video, Smith notes that while she enjoyed the role, she is "ready to spend more time with my family," adding that her grandchildren and children have moved to Minneapolis and that her father is turning 95 years old this summer.

"This decision is not political; it is entirely personal. But it's not lost on me that our country is in need of strong progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever," she said.

Smith, 66, was appointed to the Senate in 2017 to fill the vacancy left by Democratic Sen. Al Franken's resignation in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. Smith won a special election the next year and then another election in 2020 to serve a full six-year term.

She has been a longtime fixture in Minnesota politics since well before she joined the Senate, serving as the state's lieutenant governor and, before that, as a top aide to key Democratic politicians.

Smith is the second Senate Democrat to announce their retirements ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, following Gary Peters of Michigan. That means Democrats will have to defend at least two open seats as they face an uphill climb to take control of the Senate.

With its current split between 53 Republicans and 47 senators who caucus with Democrats, the party needs a net gain of four seats to control the Senate, since Vice President JD Vance controls the tiebreaking vote.

But Democrats signaled that they are confident they will hold on to Smith's seat in Minnesota, where Vice President Kamala Harris won by 4 percentage points in November. Republicans last won a statewide election there in 2006, when Tim Pawlenty narrowly won re-election as governor.

“No Republican has won a Minnesota Senate race in over 20 years, and Democrats will continue to hold this seat in 2026,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson David Bergstein said.

President Donald Trump's showing in Minnesota last year was the best by a Republican presidential candidate in the state in 20 years, at just under 47% of the vote.

Gregg Peppin, a veteran Republican consultant in Minnesota, was optimistic that the race is winnable for the GOP.

"Given the atmosphere and given the open seat and given the fact that there will be probably hotly contested primaries in both parties, I think this is probably our best chance in many years to field a quality candidate and run a competitive race,” Peppin said.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) retiring puts Michigan back in the spotlight.

Peters announced Tuesday that he won’t run for re-election in Michigan in 2026, creating a pivotal open-seat election next year in one of the most tightly divided swing states in the United States.

Peters made the announcement in an interview with The Detroit News, in which he said he wouldn’t resign but won’t seek re-election because he “never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life.”

“I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation,” he told the paper.

“I think this is pretty normal for everybody to say, I’ve done a job, and I’m proud of the job I did, but there are other things I want to do in my life. There are other ways that I can give back to the community.”

Peters also released a video and press release announcing his decision.

Peters' decision will have implications for the fight for control of the Senate in two years and, potentially, for Michigan's closely watched race for governor. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, plus the tie-breaking vice presidency. Peters' retirement in a state Donald Trump has twice won narrowly (and lost once) could add another degree of difficulty to his party's efforts to win the majority.

Peters has repeatedly faced tough election fights in the competitive state. So while his race would have likely been competitive if he decided to run again, the open race only raises the likelihood of a competitive Senate election in Michigan next year, when it could be one of the top battlegrounds on the Senate map.

A big field of potential candidates for Senate and governor

It’s unclear who might run to replace Peters from either party. To the extent people in Michigan were looking forward to 2026 elections already, much of the attention in the state has been focused right now on the wide-open race for governor, since two-term Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited.

Whitmer said in a statement issued by a spokesperson for her political group, Fight Like Hell, that she wouldn't seek Peters' seat.

"Governor Whitmer is grateful for Senator Peters’ service," the spokesperson said. "She is proudly serving the people of Michigan as governor and is not running for this seat in the Senate."

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the only major Democrat in the race for governor right now, while Michigan state Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is the only major GOP candidate in the race. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat, left the party and is mounting an independent bid.

But many potential candidates on both sides of the aisle were expected to consider running for governor. It’s possible the opening could sway some of those politicians to decide to mount a Senate bid instead.

On the Democratic side, possible gubernatorial contenders include Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist; former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who moved to the state a few years ago (his husband grew up in Michigan); and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a member of the Democratic leadership in the Senate whose influence has grown in the state after she delivered a buzzy floor speech pushing back against Republicans who claimed her party wanted to indoctrinate children.

This is what Tina Smith stands for.

And the Republican side could get crowded too — there are a number of current or former GOP members of Congress who could be strong candidates if they decide to run, and candidates for governor in 2022 who may want to try to run again.

Now that the Senate race is open, it could serve as another release valve for pent-up political ambition among Michigan Democrats and Republicans.

GOP Rep. John James, for example, ran in two of the last three Senate elections, though it’s unclear whether he’d want to run again this year. A Republican Senate strategist keeping tabs on the race told NBC News they're keeping an eye specifically on James, as well as former Rep. Mike Rogers (who ran in 2024) and current Rep. Bill Huizenga.

Republican Rep. Lisa McClain, the House Republican Conference Chair, told reporters that she wouldn't run for the Senate and that she is "happy here" in the House.

Tudor Dixon, a political commentator who lost to Whitmer in the 2022 governor's race, acknowledged Tuesday that she is considering entering the GOP Senate primary.

"I appreciate the outpouring of support and am considering our future very seriously," Dixon said on X.

A source familiar with Buttigieg's thinking confirmed that he is "exploring all 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 source added.

A source close to Gilchrist made it clear that he's considering a Senate bid too, amid the open gubernatorial race.

"This is a pivotal time for Michigan and the country, and while he’s working with Governor Whitmer to make progress for Michigan he’s seriously considering running for this open Senate seat," the source said.

McMorrow told NBC News that she is looking at both the gubernatorial and the Senate races and plans to "have a number of conversations in the coming days about where I can do the most good for Michiganders.”

This is what Gary Peters, Chuck Schumer, Amy Klobuchar, Jack Reed, Jacky Rosen, Richard Blumenthal and Democrats support.

Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., who won her second term last fall in a Grand Rapids-area district, also is looking at the Senate race, a source close to her said.

As for Gilchrist, if he chooses to run for the Senate instead of governor next year, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association is prepared to spend seven figures in the primary on his behalf, said the group’s executive director, Kevin Holst. 

Dennis Lennox, a GOP consultant with extensive Michigan experience, noted that Sen. Elissa Slotkin enjoyed a relatively clear Democratic primary field in her successful bid to succeed Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired.

“Democrats in Michigan are institutionally stronger, and clearing the field will help their eventual nominee,” said Lennox, who mentioned Buttigieg as a strong candidate.

Lennox went on to mention James as a potential candidate for either post and wondered whether Huizenga or Rep. John Moolenaar would want to give up their House seats if James doesn’t run for the Senate.

“There isn’t much of a Republican bench, although Michigan is one of those states where there’s perennially an outside business kind of candidate who self-funds,” he said, mentioning former RNC and Michigan GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel as a “wild card” possibility.

Peters' rise in politics

Peters told The Detroit News he wouldn't run for another public office in 2026 and is focused on finishing his Senate term.

A former state senator, Naval Reserve officer and head of the state's lottery, Peters arrived in Washington in 2009 after defeating a GOP incumbent in an Oakland County-area House race. He won a tough re-election in 2010 amid the Republican wave that year before winning a difficult Democratic primary after redistricting threw him into a district with another incumbent.

He then won a campaign to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin in 2014, earning a second term in a hard-fought race against James in 2020.

Peters holds pivotal committee posts in the Senate, on the Appropriations, Armed Services and Commerce, Science and Transportation committees. And he served two stints leading the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Under his leadership in 2022, Democrats expanded their majority in an election cycle many had expected would be difficult for his party.

Two years later, Democrats lost control of the Senate. Besides losing seats in deep-red West Virginia in 2024, Montana and Ohio, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey also lost in Pennsylvania, but Democrats kept Senate seats in other battlegrounds Trump won, including Michigan.

Holding these lawmakers accountable is not just a pledge, but a promise. You need to learn who represents your community. Your local community member, your school board member, your mayor, your state representative, your state senator, your governor, your U.S. Representative, your U.S. Senator and the president need to be held accountable for their actions. 

Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and the U.S. must unequivocally end its aid, support, cover and endorsement. Our taxpayer money should not help Israel any further.

Israel is the red line and if any lawmaker backs the apartheid ethnostate, they will not receive my vote. Regardless of political affiliation, if you are supporting Israel, you are not getting donations or a vote from me.

I will hold President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accountable.

The call number to the White House and US Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the US Secret Service and US Capitol Police. 

Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to", "illegal immigrants" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to focus on ending gun violence, lowering costs, improving healthcare and building relationships with other nations. Let them know that we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-Semitic or in support of terrorism. 

We have bigger issues at home and our tax dollars should solve the housing crisis, lowering food prices, fixing roads, bridges, helping reinvest in struggling urban and rural communities. We have hospitals closing, big box retailers leaving communities and television programs dying. There are bigger issues in the country than Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and legislators avoid influence from lobbyists.

The Resistance Must Stop Israel!✊️🇵🇸

Israel Must Fall......

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

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