‘A Perfect Member of Congress’

Photo credit: The Office of Sen. Gary Peters

Don’t look for U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) doing the rounds of the Sunday morning talk shows or the nightly cable news gabfests. The typically low-key, soon-to-be former senior senator from Michigan is not a frequent flyer on the Washington, D.C., media circuit.

In fact, in Washington, according to Peters, there is something of an inverse relationship to legislative accomplishment versus television appearances.

“A lot of folks like to get on TV and get media attention and throw rocks,” he said. “But when you throw rocks, people remember that. And especially if it’s gratuitous, then it’s harder to build the kind of trust you need in order to get things done. … I always say working in a bipartisan way does not usually get rewarded when it comes to the media.”

Oakland University political science professor David Dulio noted the University of Virginia/Vanderbilt University Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Peters the most effective senator for three successive congressional sessions from 2019 to 2024.

“That says a lot for me, as does his work with members on the other side of the aisle,” Dulio said. “And as you know, with the dynamics of the modern Senate, anything that is controversial or difficult takes bipartisanship to do.”

Difficult, perhaps. But broadly bipartisan deals can create more durable policies, he said, that do not change based on changes in power following elections.

This was all done while Peters also held the very partisan role of chairing the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, where the job was defeating Republicans – including members he served with.

“And that’s because I can separate politics from business and understand that our business is governing,” he said, adding that there are Republicans who feel the same way. “The only way you can govern is to find common ground. And I truly believe that the best policy solutions involve both Democrats and Republicans working together. That’s how those are, how you get lasting solutions and more permanence in the decisions that we make.”

Peters said he has friendships with Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who was his adversary as chair of the Senate Republican campaign committee. He and conservative Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) bonded over their military backgrounds and shared love of motorcycles.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Peters’ military background — until recently, he was a Navy Reserve officer — and bipartisan connections helped Michigan land a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.

“Sen. Gary Peters has been a steadfast champion for Michigan,” she said. “As a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Sen. Peters recognizes the sacrifices our servicemembers and their families make; he understands the importance of a strong national defense, and his bipartisan advocacy helped us secure the fighter mission at Selfridge.”

Peters was also instrumental in finalizing plans to create a long-sought second bridge across the Detroit River connecting Michigan and Canada.

“You know, when you deal with Gary, you’re dealing with a guy who is really what I feel is a perfect member of Congress,” said Dennis Muchmore, who served as Chief of Staff for Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. “I mean, he’s a guy who knows what he’s talking about, knows what he can’t do and what he can, and then he will pick up a ball and run with it.”

Muchmore said Peters helped vault hurdles standing in the way of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which will allow uninterrupted traffic flow between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and serve as a vital economic link between the U.S. and Canada.

One of those hurdles was waiting on U.S. State Department approval of a permit for an international border crossing, said Sandy Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber.

Baruah said then-Secretary of State John Kerry “dragged, delayed, and denied the final permit that was necessary to ensure that the Gordie Howe International Bridge was approved.” Peters, he said, was in a position to work with the Obama administration to push the project forward.

“It took a senior Democrat, especially in the U.S. Senate, especially one who had the gravitas of a Gary Peters, to convince the Obama administration to move this forward,” he said. “Gary Peters has been and continues to be one of the members of the Senate who serves the United States and Michigan and doesn’t serve a political party, and for that, he’s going to be sorely missed.”

Rick Pluta is the Senior Capitol Correspondent at Michigan Public Radio Network.