WASHINGTON — Michigan U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet has ruled out a run for U.S. Senate and will instead run for reelection to the House, she said Thursday.

The first-term Democrat from Bay City had been actively exploring a Senate for at least the last month after Michigan's senior senator, Gary Peters, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, announced he won't run for another six-year term.

"I love mid-Michigan, and representing our region in Congress is the honor of my lifetime. I first ran for office because too many families in our district work hard but struggle to get by, and now they are worried about what extreme proposals from D.C. would mean for their lives and their ability to make ends meet," McDonald Rivet said in a statement released first to The Detroit News.

"In this moment, each of us should put ourselves in the position that allows us to do the most good. So I am excited to run for re-election in our highly competitive district, help win back the House, and move an agenda that uplifts the working people in our communities."

McDonald Rivet was viewed as a possible Senate contender in part for her recent experience running in a competitive congressional district that President Donald Trump won by 2 percentage points in the same election that McDonald Rivet won it by nearly 7 percentage points.

She campaigned last year on issues of economic security and pocketbook issues to succeed the retired Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint Township in a seat representing the Tri-Cities region. A drawback to her Senate candidacy, however, might have been her limited exposure in Detroit, a Democratic stronghold and Michigan's largest city.

Last month, the former state senator was having conversations with stakeholders across Michigan encouraging her to run, including elected officials, union leaders, clergy and former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Lansing Democrat, two Democratic sources said at the time.

But a Democratic source close to the congresswoman said McDonald Rivet is keenly aware that Michigan's toss-up 8th District is among a handful of seats that could determine control of the U.S. House, which Democrats are aiming to flip in the 2026 midterm elections. There is concern that Democrats could lose the seat if McDonald Rivet doesn't run.

The Democratic primary field is expected to get crowded soon, with state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak launching her campaign last week and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Birmingham Democrat, and progressive Abdul El-Sayed both expected to announce bids this month. El-Sayed stepped down a week ago as head of Wayne County’s public health division.

Other potential contenders include Attorney General Dana Nessel and Nasser Beydoun, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Senate last cycle.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake Township is expected to launch his campaign as soon as Monday. Axios reported last month that Rogers has hired Trump's 2024 co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita.

Other potential Republican contenders for a Senate run include U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Holland Republican; state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, a Coldwater Republican; and former gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon.

Michigan last year hosted one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country in the race to succeed Stabenow, who retired after 24 years in the Senate. In that case, Democratic leadership coalesced around U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly as the party's nominee, and she narrowly defeated GOP nominee Rogers 48.6%-48.3%, in November.

McDonald Rivet's district covers Genesee, Saginaw and Bay counties and parts of Midland County.

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