Debbie Stabenow

Sen. Debbie Stabenow will not seek reelection in 2024, the longtime Michigan Democrat said Thursday, opening up a Senate seat in a key swing state.

“No one embodies the true Michigan spirit more than Debbie Stabenow,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. After two terms in the House, she won election to the Senate in 2000, unseating Republican incumbent Spencer Abraham. In the Senate, she rose to become the [current No. Senate Democrats were already facing a tough map in 2024, but Stabenow’s decision to retire puts another seat in a crucial swing state in play. [closer-than-expected race](https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/results/michigan) to Stabenow in 2018 and then [ narrowly lost a bid](https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/state/michigan/senate) for the state’s other Senate seat in 2020, before [winning election to the House ](https://www.cnn.com/election/2022/results/michigan/us-house-district-10)in November from a swing seat north of Detroit. Bill Huizenga and Rep.-elect John James and Democratic Reps. She also currently chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee. Dan Kildee and Debbie Dingell and Democratic state Sen. “Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate at the end of my term on January 3, 2025,” Stabenow, 72, said in a statement. I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election and will leave the U.S. [control of the Senate](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/12/politics/democrats-keep-senate/index.html) in the midterm elections.

Debbie Stabenow was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, but has a political career that has spanned 50 years. Stabenow cited "passing the torch" to a ...

The Republican National Committee has already set their primary schedule and Michigan is not in the first five states. If the full DNC approves the plan, as expected, Michigan would be the fifth state to vote in the primary process on Feb. [voted to move Michigan up](https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-iowa-e46b21ac9ed4ac96be6791bf7afc163d) in the party’s presidential primary calendar. "As the youngest and first woman to chair the Board, this began years of breaking barriers, blazing trails, and being the 'first' woman to reach historic milestones as an elected official, including the honor of being the first woman from Michigan elected to the U.S. James was elected to the House in November. Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. "As part of my own new generation, I was elected to the Ingham County Commission in 1974 at the age of 24," she said in a statement. Stabenow is the longest-serving member of the state’s congressional delegation. In 2000, Stabenow was the first woman from Michigan elected to the U.S. Stabenow cited "passing the torch" to a younger generation of political leaders as motive for stepping down. I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election and will leave the U.S. Stabenow's impending retirement turns Michigan’s next Senate race into one of the most competitive in the country.