The 2020 United States Senate election in Michigan was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent Michigan. It was held concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. This was one of two Democratic-held U.S. Senate seats up for election in 2020 in a state Donald Trump won in 2016.The other was in Alabama, where Republican Tommy Tubberville unseated Doug Jones The primary was held on August 4.
The filing deadline for candidates to run in the primary was April 21, but this was extended to May 8 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The election was considered a potential upset pickup by the Republicans due to the state's demographic trends, Donald Trump's upset win in 2016, and Republican candidate John James exceeding expectations in the 2018 U.S. Senate race.
Incumbent Democrat Gary Peters won election to a second term, though by a much closer margin than expected. James, who outperformed his margin of defeat from 2018 and Trump on the same ballot, initially refused to concede,Gary Peters says John James' refusal to concede election '...pathetic' Oakland Press claiming in a statement published to his campaign website two days after the election that he had been "cheated" out of winning the election. The statement alleged that there were "deep concerns that millions of Michiganders may have been disenfranchised by a dishonest few who cheat."John James: Every vote must count, and elections must be fair and honest" Metro Times On November 24, exactly three weeks after election day, James conceded the race. With a margin of 1.68%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2020 Senate election cycle, behind only the regularly-scheduled election in Georgia.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gary Peters, incumbent U.S. senator
Declined Abdul El-Sayed, former executive director of the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion and candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2018
Endorsements
Democratic primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John James, businessman, Iraq War veteran and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018
Disqualified Bob Carr, historic preservationist, businessman and perennial candidate Valerie Willis, write-in candidate in the 2018 United States Senate election in Michigan (switched to U.S. Taxpayers candidacy)
Declined Tom Leonard, former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives and nominee for Michigan Attorney General in 2018 Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works commissioner and former U.S. representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district Sandy Pensler, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 Bill Schuette, former Michigan attorney general, nominee for governor of Michigan in 2018 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1990 (endorsed John James) Rick Snyder, former governor of Michigan
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JohnJames BillSchuette Undecided June 6, 2019 Schuette announces that he will not run by endorsing JamesTarget InsyghtTarget Insyght April 22–25, 2019 296 (LV) –59%15%26%
Results
Other candidates Communist Party Withdrawn Frank Seldon Cupps (as a write-in candidate)
Green Party Nominee Marcia Squier (2018 Green Party nominee for US Senate)
Natural Law Party Nominee Doug Dern
U.S. Taxpayers Party Nominee Valerie L. Willis (switched from Republican candidacy after being disqualified for the Republican primary)
Independents Leonard Gadzinski Withdrawn Gregory Charles Jones
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 2, 2020Daily Kos October 30, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020RCPOctober 23, 2020DDHQNovember 3, 2020538November 2, 2020EconomistNovember 2, 2020
Additional general election endorsements
Polling Graphical summary
Aggregate polls +John James vs. Gary PetersSource of poll aggregationDates administeredDates updatedGary PetersJohn JamesOther/UndecidedMargin270 To Win270 To WinNovember 2, 2020November 3, 202049.8%42.2%8.0%Peters +7.6Real Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsNovember 1, 2020November 3, 202049.8%44.4%5.8%Peters +5.4