State Rep. Joe Tate Joins 2026 Senate Race
Detroit, MI – State Rep. Joe Tate, a Democrat from Detroit and former Michigan House Speaker, has officially announced his candidacy for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 elections. His announcement came during an interview with the Associated Press on Sunday.
Tate’s campaign is rooted in a personal promise to his grandparents, who migrated from Alabama to Michigan during the Great Migration seeking better economic opportunities and safety from racial violence. "I’m running for the U.S. Senate because I want to continue to keep that promise that my grandparents came up to Michigan for," he stated.
Currently, Tate enters a competitive Democratic field, joining other declared candidates including former gubernatorial contender Abdul El-Sayed, state Senator Mallory McMorrow, and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. The seat is being vacated by Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who has opted not to seek reelection.
Prior to his political career, Tate played two years in the NFL as an offensive lineman before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Elected to the state legislature in 2018, he made history in 2022 by becoming the first Black Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, where he led significant legislative changes, including gun control reforms and expanded access to public schooling.
However, Tate’s leadership faced challenges when the Republicans regained control of the House in November 2024. His tenure ended controversially as critical bills failed to pass due to attendance issues arising from boycotting Republicans.
While Tate is establishing his candidacy, the political landscape is evolving. Notably, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has yet to rule out a bid for the Senate seat. On the Republican side, only former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers has declared his candidacy, though others are considering entering the race.
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