Gary C. Peters
DemocratU.S. Senator, MI| Age | 67 (b. 1958-12-01) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2009-01-06 (~17 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian (Episcopalian) |
| Education | BA in political science, Alma College (1980, magna cum laude); MBA, University of Detroit Mercy (1984); JD, Wayne State University Law School (1989); MA in philosophy, Michigan State University (2007); diploma, U.S. Naval War College, College of Naval Command and Staff (2018) |
| Prior occupation | Financial advisor (investment broker/assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch and vice president at Paine Webber for over 20 years); attorney; college professor (Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government, Central Michigan University); Michigan Lottery Commissioner |
| Military service | Yes: U.S. Navy Reserve (Lieutenant Commander) |
| Birthplace | Pontiac, Michigan |
| Marital status | Married — Colleen Ochoa Peters |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Bloomfield Township, Michigan |
Pending research: languages · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2014 |
| Previous offices | Rochester Hills City Council (1991-1993) · Michigan State Senate, 14th District (1995-2002) · Michigan Lottery Commissioner (2003-2007) · U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan's 9th District (2009-2013) · U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan's 14th District (2013-2015) |
| Committees | Appropriations · Armed Services · Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Ranking Member) · Joint Economic Committee |
| Caucuses | Senate Taiwan Caucus · Congressional Rare Disease Caucus · Congressional Motorcycle Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (2021-2025) · Ranking Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (2025-present) · Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2021-2025) |
| Ideology | DW-NOMINATE 1st dimension score -0.251 (center-left/liberal); ranked the most effective senator in the 116th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking |
| Signature legislation | AV START Act (American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act) - autonomous vehicle legislation · Whistleblower protection legislation for federal contractors · CHIPS and Science Act (key advocate for semiconductor manufacturing provisions) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $3,256,236–$9,953,000 (2023) · estimate
| Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWELX) | fund · $250,001–$500,000 · 2023 |
| Congressional Federal bank deposit | other · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Lowe's Companies Inc. (LOW) | stock · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) | stock · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) | stock · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023 |
Top donors: University of Michigan ($561,574 (career))
Top industries: Public Sector Unions · Lawyers/Law Firms · Securities & Investment · Automotive (Auto Manufacturers) · Transportation Unions
Scandals & crimes ledger
No recorded incidents. Under the adjudicated-only methodology, an entry appears only when a court or official body has formally acted and the record is cited.