Peters protects Dem Senate seat in Michigan

Democrat Rep. Gary Peters defeated his Republican opponent Terri Lynn Land to take over the open Senate seat in Michigan. 

The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed. 

Peters, who has served in the House since 2008, helped keep the Michigan seat in Democratic hands; Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) announced his retirement last year. 

Peters had led in polling throughout the year, opening up his widest lead in the month leading up to the election. He was one of the few candidates not to shy away from campaigning with President Obama, who attended a rally with him in the state over the weekend. 

Land was viewed as a serious contender early on because of her strong fundraising and ability to self-fund. But she made few public appearances for months and struggled when she did, and Peters slowly but surely built a lead in the polls.

Though Land, a former secretary of State, raised more money than Peters, national Republicans did not invest much in the race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spent nearly $4 million, compared to the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s $700,000. Outside groups bombarded her with more than $14 million in attack ads. 

Two top super-PACs also battled it out on the airwaves. Conservative billionaire Joe Rickets’ group spent more than $5 million, while billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer’s group spent a little more than $4 million. The Democratic Senate Majority PAC also poured $3.5 million in attack ads against Land. 

The chairman of the DSCC, Sen. Michael Bennet (Colo.), congratulated Peters, calling him a “veteran, businessman and independent leader.”

“I can’t think of anyone better than Gary Peters to succeed Carl Levin’s legacy of public service and effective leadership in the U.S. Senate,” Bennet said in a statement.