After completing his Senate term in January 2027, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters will co-lead one of the only political centers in the country jointly led by a Democrat and a Republican.
Peters will become the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Endowed Chair in Practical Politics at the University of Southern California and serve as director of the Center for the Political Future at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alongside Republican strategist Mike Murphy.
“I’ve learned a lot over the years about what it takes to get things done at all levels of government, and I look forward to sharing my experience with students,” Peters said in a news release. “But I expect to learn from them, too. They’re the ones who are going to take the reins
next, and I will do whatever I can to help prepare them for the future.”
When was Peters elected to the U.S. Senate?
Peters was first elected to the Senate in 2014, starting his term in 2015. He defeated Republican Terri Lynn Land 55%-41% in the general election,according to Ballotpedia.
Peters defeated Republican John James in 2020, 49.9%-48.2%.
What did Peters do before being elected to office?
Peters was born in 1958 in Pontiac and is a fifth-generation Michigander. He graduated from Rochester High School, then Alma College in 1980. At Alma, he earned his bachelor's degree in political science, according to his campaign website.
He went on to earn a master's of business administration in finance from the University of Detroit Mercy, a master's degree in political science from Wayne State University, a master's degree in philosophy from Michigan State University with a focus on the ethics of development, and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
Gary and his wife, Colleen, live in Oakland County and have three children: Gary Jr., Madeleine and Alana. They recently became grandparents.
Peters worked in the private sector for more than 20 years as a financial adviser and in a variety of management positions. He was an assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch before serving as vice president at UBS/PaineWebber.
Is Peters a veteran?
Yes, Peters volunteered for the U.S. Navy Reserve at age 34 and earned a Seabee combat warfare specialist designation. He was promoted to lieutenant commander. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he volunteered for drilling status and served overseas.
What is Peters' political history?
Peters was first elected to Rochester Hills City Council in 1991.
In 1994, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate, where he served two terms.
He served as Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery from 2003 to 2007, and in the Michigan Senate from 1995 to 2002.
Peters represented Michigan's 9th Congressional District from 2009 to 2013, and Michigan's 14th Congressional District from 2013 to 2015, according to Ballotpedia.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Sen. Gary Peters to lead USC political center. What he'll do
