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Gary PetersDEMDemocrat United States Senator
65
Years of Age
26
Years of Experience
MIResidence (state)

Gary Charles Peters Sr. (born December 1, 1958) is an American lawyer, politician, and former military officer serving as the junior United States senator from Michigan since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representative for Michigan's 14th congressional district, which included the eastern half of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Southfield, and Pontiac, from 2009 to 2015 (the district was Michigan's 9th congressional district until 2013). Before his election to Congress, Peters served in the United States Navy Reserve, spent 22 years as an investment advisor, and worked briefly in academia. He was elected to the Rochester Hills City Council in 1991 and represented the 14th district in the Michigan Senate from 1995 to 2002. He was the Democratic nominee for Michigan Attorney General in 2002, narrowly losing to Republican Mike Cox. He was then appointed commissioner of the Michigan Lottery by Governor Jennifer Granholm, serving from 2003 to 2008, when he resigned to successfully run for Congress. In 2014, Peters was elected to the United States Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic incumbent Carl Levin. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Terri Lynn Land in the general election. He was the only non-incumbent Democrat to win a Senate election in 2014.

Voterly's Issue Scores  (1 - 30 of 30)

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Special Interest Group Ratings

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Interest Groups That OPPOSE
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Average Score

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0 / 30

Campaign Funding

20
18
$12,233,691
Total Raised
$11,190,136
Total Spent
$1,503,728
Cash on Hand
Top Industries  (1 - 4 of 10) View All Industries
99%
Lawyers/Law Firms$1,269,727
62%
Retired$797,338
56%
Securities & Investment$724,093
44%
Leadership PACs$570,550
44%
Real Estate$564,236
38%
Insurance$486,300
35%
Environment$446,385
33%
Education$422,500
31%
Health Professionals$400,398
29%
Lobbyists$371,572
Direct campaign contributions grouped by the industry industry of each donor/PAC.

Largest Contributors

Funding generally from an organization's PAC or its members/employees. Organizations did not donate directly.
Financial Data Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Education8 - 8 of 6
Michigan State University
MA Philosophy/Ethics of Development
2007
Wayne State University School of Law
JD
1989
University of Detroit, Mercy
MBA Finance
1985
Alma College
BA Political Science
1980
College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College
Attended
Wayne State University
MA Political Science
Past Positions1 - 14 of 14
Chair
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
2021 - Current
Senator
United States Senate, Michigan
2014 - Current
Representative
United States House of Representatives, Michigan
2009 - 2014
Senator
Michigan State Senate
1994 - 2002
Member
City Council, Rochester Hills, Michigan
1991 - 1994
Vice President
Former Branch Office, Merrill Lynch
1980 - 1989
Chair
American Government, Central Michigan University
Arbitrator
New York Stock Exchange
Former Instructor
Business Policy, Oakland University
Former Professor
Finance, Wayne State University
Former Professor
Business Economics, Wayne State University
Former Strategic Management
Oakland University
Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist
United States Naval Reserve
Vice President
Former Branch Office, Paine Webber
Other Experience1 - 21 of 21
Commissioner
Michigan State Lottery
Former Chair, Air Issues Committee
Michigan Sierra Club
Member, Board of Directors
Common Cause Michigan
Member, Environmental Policy Advisory Committee
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
Former Chair
Senate Democratic Caucus
Former Member
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, United States Senate
Former Member
Strategic Forces Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
Space, Science, and Competitiveness Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
Investigations Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing
Former Member
Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather, United States Senate
Former Member
Joint Economic Committee, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, United States Senate
Former Ranking Member
Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, United States Senate
Former Ranking Member
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee, United States Senate