Mich. Sen. Gary Peters in talks with University of Southern California for possible post-Senate gig

Melissa Nann Burke, The Detroit News on Aug 10, 2026

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WASHINGTON — Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters has five months to go on the job working for Michigan citizens, but he's already begun talks with a potential future employer about his next gig.

Peters, 67, of Michigan, notified the Senate Ethics Committee this summer that he had entered talks with a private employer, the University of Southern California, to negotiate and arrange prospective employment.

A copy of the form obtained by The Detroit News was filed June 3 and signed by the senator on the same day. It doesn't indicate what kind of role Peters is negotiating. The news was first reported by NOTUS.

In a statement, Peters' office said: "Senator Peters is having conversations about potential opportunities once he completes his Senate term. He is following all Senate rules regarding future employment opportunities. There are no additional details to share at this time."

Peters, who has represented Michigan in the Senate since 2015, opted not to seek reelection this year, and his term ends Jan. 3.

Senate ethics rules require that senators disclose negotiations with private employers within three days of the start of the talks. Senators engaged in such negotiations also must recuse themselves to avoid even the appearance of a conflict between their senatorial duties and the interests of the prospective employer they're negotiating with.

The University of Southern California did not respond to messages Monday seeking comment.

Peters' name surfaced as a potential candidate to be the next president of Michigan State University around the time he filed the ethics disclosure in June, and at the time didn't attempt to tamp down any speculation.

Back then, MSU was expected to be looking for a new leader after President Kevin Guskiewicz was tapped for the presidency at Clemson University. Guskiewicz later reversed his plans in early July and ended up staying at MSU.

Peters, an MSU alum, sidestepped questions in June, though, about whether he would be interested in serving as the East Lansing school's president, either in an interim or permanent role.

"I'm going to stick with the answer that I'm totally focused on serving the state of Michigan in the U.S. Senate right now," Peters told The Detroit News.

When asked if he'd ever leave the Senate early to take another position before his term is up, Peters didn't rule it out and repeated himself: "I'm totally focused on serving the state of Michigan in the U.S. Senate right now."

USC already has a brand-new president. The USC Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Beong-Soo Kim as the university’s 13th president in February after he'd served as interim president since July 1, 2025.

Peters has worked at universities at different stages of his career in public service, which includes serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve, eight years as a state senator, four years as Michigan's lottery commissioner and six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Peters holds advanced degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University and MSU, where he earned a master's of arts degree in philosophy.

While he was running for Congress in 2007 and 2008, Peters worked part-time at Central Michigan University as the Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government, teaching a course on politics and public policy. He previously taught courses in finance at Wayne State University and strategic management and business policy at Oakland University, according to a 2007 profile in the Michigan Bar Journal.

If Peters were to leave office before his term ends, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would be able to appoint a new senator to serve out the remaining months of his term.

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