Gary Peters Faces His Greatest Challenge in Defending a Daunting Senate Map for Democrats.
Imagine him enthusiastically supporting you from the sidelines during your T-ball game.
TroibNews 
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Gary Peters is feeling the pressure. The Michigan Democrat responsible for navigating a challenging Senate landscape this year shared that his stress level prompted him to consult with his therapist just before a recent lunch.
“Dr. Davidson,” Peters quipped over a meal at a local Mexican restaurant. “Dr. Harley Davidson,” he added, dryly referencing his affinity for motorcycles.
As chair of the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee, Peters is at a critical juncture. He has been tasked again with this role after effectively helping the party maintain its seats in Arizona and Nevada—and surprisingly, the majority—in 2022. Now, he faces the challenge of defending 23 Senate seats, including those held by vulnerable Democrats like Sen. Jon Tester of Montana and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, while also attempting to seize unlikely pickup opportunities in Florida and Texas, where he has recently started efforts to target Sens. Rick Scott and Ted Cruz.
Can this calm Michigander, who prefers spending time on his motorcycle and drafting intricate Senate legislation over engaging in the cable news circuit, navigate the tumultuous landscape of today's cutthroat politics and help Democrats retain Senate control in the upcoming elections?
“When you think of the incentive structure right now to get your name out, it’s about people who want to throw rocks and create controversy,” Peters remarked a few days after completing an 800-mile tour of Michigan on his Harley Davidson Pan America. “People who work and toil away to pass common sense, good, bipartisan legislation that actually helps people's lives? That doesn't get press.”
Peters often receives the criticism of being dull—or, perhaps more harshly, naive. In August, for instance, he had to rely on a reporter’s explanation of the context behind Tim Walz’s unfounded couch joke aimed at JD Vance, much to the embarrassment of his aide at the table.
His lack of national recognition has led some in the National Republican Senatorial Committee's political and communications teams to mockingly refer to him as "Jerry." Despite being granted the opportunity to give a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the speech only lasted for three minutes and two seconds.
“You can picture him cheering you on outside of your T-ball game the same way he cheers on adults running for Senate,” stated Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who first met Peters at a fundraiser where he enthusiastically encouraged her to pursue her legislative seat.
Nevertheless, Peters might embody the Big Dad Energy that characterizes this election year for Democrats. A former Eagle Scout and father of three, he previously worked as a financial adviser, assisting parents with optimizing their college savings plans. Today, he fosters competitive fundraising efforts among Democratic senators by creating point systems, awarding gift baskets filled with wine, cheese, cookies, and crackers to those who excel.
“It's the smallest, silliest thing you could possibly imagine,” noted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who has collaborated with him in his role as chair and is considering following in his footsteps. “But it works on people like me, who was like the number one Girl Scout Cookie seller when I was 10 years old.”
Before Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate, Peters' fellow Michigan Democrats proposed him as a candidate alongside his former colleague in the Senate, with whom he once enjoyed sampling Michigan-made whiskey. “To this day I don’t know if she really likes it,” Peters reflected.
Peters' personal history shares some commonalities with that of Tim Walz. A former lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve, his mother survived Nazi occupation in France and met his father while he served in World War II; she later became active in organizing her workplace and served as an SEIU union steward. Peters himself has won five House and Senate races and successfully countered $40 million in outside GOP spending against him during the 2020 campaign.
His political standing in Michigan is robust enough that he outperformed President Biden by two or more points in the Detroit suburbs, Genesee County, and several others. As the first senator from the Midwest to lead the committee since Bob Kerrey in the 1990s, Peters is well acquainted with the region’s electoral dynamics.
Gillibrand commented on his understanding of “red and purple places.”
Peters also has firsthand experience with one of the election’s critical issues, having been the first senator to share his family’s abortion story during his 2020 campaign.
“It’s still powerful,” Peters stated regarding the ongoing relevance of this issue. “If you talk about Donald Trump, the reason we are where we are with the Dobbs decision and overturning Roe v. Wade was because of Donald Trump. He bears all the responsibility for it. He put those members on the Supreme Court. It was part of their litmus test. It was a plan to overturn it.”
Despite these qualifications, Peters was always considered a longshot. While Harris reached out to him quickly after Biden's campaign ended, he ultimately wasn't chosen.
“I don't want to get into any of that. I just want to respect her process,” he mentioned.
Now, as the election approaches, Peters is methodically deciding where to allocate investments in Senate races, akin to a financial planner strategizing on mutual funds.
“He's a guy who doesn't get a lot of limelight, doesn't do all the cable news and stuff, but he's built a team at the Senatorial Committee and helped raise the resources to get the job done,” said Jeff Timmer, a senior adviser to the anti-Trump Lincoln Project and former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party.
In regard to his recent investments in Senate races in Texas and Florida, Peters clarified, “Not at all,” mentioning the quality of his candidates and expressing optimism about the opportunities these states present.
“I feel very comfortable making investments now in both Texas and Florida,” Peters affirmed. “If you look at the polling, candidates are in the margin of error, and at the high end of the margin of error, we've got some public polls where Colin Allred is ahead, for example. But just look at the dynamics happening in those states; I feel very good about where we are. The abortion issue is playing big in both states, particularly Florida, with the referendum that's on the ballot.”
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown, whom Peters calls a colleague from the neighboring South and who first suggested Peters chair the DSCC after his 2020 victory, is encountering a late challenge from car dealer Bernie Moreno. Peters expressed optimism about that race. “We always anticipated these would be close races, and they are, and the numbers are where we anticipated them to be, and we're just executing our plan,” he reported.
When it comes to his native Michigan, where polls indicate Harris leads Trump—but within the margin of error—Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Senate candidate, has alerted donors that Harris is “underwater.” In response to this insight, Peters opted for a more serious tone.
“We know Michigan will be a close race,” he acknowledged. “This is a battleground state, so it's going to be close, and we just got to keep executing our plan and run through the tape.”
Should Peters manage to successfully defend the Senate, a formidable endeavor that seems increasingly challenging, he will leave his campaign position with a sense of accomplishment.
“I just put my head down and work and ride motorcycles,” he concluded.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
“Dr. Davidson,” Peters quipped over a meal at a local Mexican restaurant. “Dr. Harley Davidson,” he added, dryly referencing his affinity for motorcycles.
As chair of the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee, Peters is at a critical juncture. He has been tasked again with this role after effectively helping the party maintain its seats in Arizona and Nevada—and surprisingly, the majority—in 2022. Now, he faces the challenge of defending 23 Senate seats, including those held by vulnerable Democrats like Sen. Jon Tester of Montana and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, while also attempting to seize unlikely pickup opportunities in Florida and Texas, where he has recently started efforts to target Sens. Rick Scott and Ted Cruz.
Can this calm Michigander, who prefers spending time on his motorcycle and drafting intricate Senate legislation over engaging in the cable news circuit, navigate the tumultuous landscape of today's cutthroat politics and help Democrats retain Senate control in the upcoming elections?
“When you think of the incentive structure right now to get your name out, it’s about people who want to throw rocks and create controversy,” Peters remarked a few days after completing an 800-mile tour of Michigan on his Harley Davidson Pan America. “People who work and toil away to pass common sense, good, bipartisan legislation that actually helps people's lives? That doesn't get press.”
Peters often receives the criticism of being dull—or, perhaps more harshly, naive. In August, for instance, he had to rely on a reporter’s explanation of the context behind Tim Walz’s unfounded couch joke aimed at JD Vance, much to the embarrassment of his aide at the table.
His lack of national recognition has led some in the National Republican Senatorial Committee's political and communications teams to mockingly refer to him as "Jerry." Despite being granted the opportunity to give a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the speech only lasted for three minutes and two seconds.
“You can picture him cheering you on outside of your T-ball game the same way he cheers on adults running for Senate,” stated Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who first met Peters at a fundraiser where he enthusiastically encouraged her to pursue her legislative seat.
Nevertheless, Peters might embody the Big Dad Energy that characterizes this election year for Democrats. A former Eagle Scout and father of three, he previously worked as a financial adviser, assisting parents with optimizing their college savings plans. Today, he fosters competitive fundraising efforts among Democratic senators by creating point systems, awarding gift baskets filled with wine, cheese, cookies, and crackers to those who excel.
“It's the smallest, silliest thing you could possibly imagine,” noted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who has collaborated with him in his role as chair and is considering following in his footsteps. “But it works on people like me, who was like the number one Girl Scout Cookie seller when I was 10 years old.”
Before Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate, Peters' fellow Michigan Democrats proposed him as a candidate alongside his former colleague in the Senate, with whom he once enjoyed sampling Michigan-made whiskey. “To this day I don’t know if she really likes it,” Peters reflected.
Peters' personal history shares some commonalities with that of Tim Walz. A former lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve, his mother survived Nazi occupation in France and met his father while he served in World War II; she later became active in organizing her workplace and served as an SEIU union steward. Peters himself has won five House and Senate races and successfully countered $40 million in outside GOP spending against him during the 2020 campaign.
His political standing in Michigan is robust enough that he outperformed President Biden by two or more points in the Detroit suburbs, Genesee County, and several others. As the first senator from the Midwest to lead the committee since Bob Kerrey in the 1990s, Peters is well acquainted with the region’s electoral dynamics.
Gillibrand commented on his understanding of “red and purple places.”
Peters also has firsthand experience with one of the election’s critical issues, having been the first senator to share his family’s abortion story during his 2020 campaign.
“It’s still powerful,” Peters stated regarding the ongoing relevance of this issue. “If you talk about Donald Trump, the reason we are where we are with the Dobbs decision and overturning Roe v. Wade was because of Donald Trump. He bears all the responsibility for it. He put those members on the Supreme Court. It was part of their litmus test. It was a plan to overturn it.”
Despite these qualifications, Peters was always considered a longshot. While Harris reached out to him quickly after Biden's campaign ended, he ultimately wasn't chosen.
“I don't want to get into any of that. I just want to respect her process,” he mentioned.
Now, as the election approaches, Peters is methodically deciding where to allocate investments in Senate races, akin to a financial planner strategizing on mutual funds.
“He's a guy who doesn't get a lot of limelight, doesn't do all the cable news and stuff, but he's built a team at the Senatorial Committee and helped raise the resources to get the job done,” said Jeff Timmer, a senior adviser to the anti-Trump Lincoln Project and former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party.
In regard to his recent investments in Senate races in Texas and Florida, Peters clarified, “Not at all,” mentioning the quality of his candidates and expressing optimism about the opportunities these states present.
“I feel very comfortable making investments now in both Texas and Florida,” Peters affirmed. “If you look at the polling, candidates are in the margin of error, and at the high end of the margin of error, we've got some public polls where Colin Allred is ahead, for example. But just look at the dynamics happening in those states; I feel very good about where we are. The abortion issue is playing big in both states, particularly Florida, with the referendum that's on the ballot.”
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown, whom Peters calls a colleague from the neighboring South and who first suggested Peters chair the DSCC after his 2020 victory, is encountering a late challenge from car dealer Bernie Moreno. Peters expressed optimism about that race. “We always anticipated these would be close races, and they are, and the numbers are where we anticipated them to be, and we're just executing our plan,” he reported.
When it comes to his native Michigan, where polls indicate Harris leads Trump—but within the margin of error—Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Senate candidate, has alerted donors that Harris is “underwater.” In response to this insight, Peters opted for a more serious tone.
“We know Michigan will be a close race,” he acknowledged. “This is a battleground state, so it's going to be close, and we just got to keep executing our plan and run through the tape.”
Should Peters manage to successfully defend the Senate, a formidable endeavor that seems increasingly challenging, he will leave his campaign position with a sense of accomplishment.
“I just put my head down and work and ride motorcycles,” he concluded.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
