Daily Kickoff
Good Wednesday morning.
In today’s Daily Kickoff, we look at the political landscape in Michigan following the announcement by Sen. Gary Peters that he will not seek reelection and report on Senate Democrats’ successful effort to kill legislation that would have sanctioned the International Criminal Court over its issuance of warrants for senior Israeli officials. We also look at how Jewish nonprofits are responding to a freeze in federal funding for most grants and programs, and report on yesterday’s special elections in Florida. Also in today’s Daily Kickoff: Jeff Lurie, Amir Hayek and Daniel Schwammenthal.
What We’re Watching
- Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, is traveling to Israel today for meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Witkoff met in Saudi Arabia yesterday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- The first confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, is happening at 10 a.m. today.
What You Should Know
The surprising decision of Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) to retire at the end of his term in 2026 sent shockwaves across Capitol Hill and in Michigan political circles, opening up a battleground Senate seat in a state that’s the epicenter of many of the thorniest electoral divides, Jewish Insider Editor-in-Chief Josh Kraushaar writes.
Michigan is one of the “blue wall” swing states that backed President Donald Trump in 2016, supported President Joe Biden in 2020, and swung back to Trump’s side last year. In last year’s election, it was the state that featured some of the most intense Democratic divisions over Middle East policy, pitting the mainstream of the party against anti-Israel and left-wing activists.
And it’s filled with the blue-collar workers that Trump won over, but Democrats need to win back to have a chance at winning back power.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) was able to narrowly win the state’s Senate election last year, despite Trump’s victory, underscoring just how competitive Michigan will be. The results served as a reminder that more moderate candidates can overperform just enough to make a big difference in swing states.
The list of prospective contenders for Peters’ seat will be long. On the Democratic side, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has already expressed interest, and would be the highest-profile contender if he ran. His biggest challenge would be overcoming attacks that he’s not from the state, and it remains to be seen whether his cerebral approach to governance would resonate with the party’s base.
One of the most moderate members of the state’s delegation, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) is also seriously considering a run. Stevens is one of the stronger supporters of Israel among House Democrats. In 2022, she defeated Democratic Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), one of the more vocal antagonists of Israel at the time, in a member-vs.-member primary spurred by redistricting.
Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), who represents a swing Grand Rapids-area district, is also considering a run. Like Slotkin and Stevens, Scholten leans more towards the moderate wing of the party after winning a GOP-held seat to get elected. Another name being floated is Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the only Jewish candidate on the short list.
On the more progressive side, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist have been floated as potential candidates. On the anti-Israel side of the ledger, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) could run, but she’s not given any indication she’d give up her House seat for a long-shot statewide bid.
Among Republicans, the big name to watch is Rep. John James (R-MI), who has run for Senate twice before, and lost both times — albeit narrowly to Peters in 2020. Other possible candidates include: former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost to Slotkin last year; and Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI). Read more here about the possible candidates in the mix.
Keep in mind: The open Senate race isn’t the only big Michigan contest in 2026. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, creating another top elective office for ambitious pols to seek. Both the state House and state Senate will also be up for grabs next year, as well.
bill killed
Senate Democrats block ICC sanctions bill

Senate Democrats blocked consideration of legislation sanctioning the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders after failing to reach an agreement with Republicans to narrow the legislation, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod and Emily Jacobs report.
What happened: Just one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), voted in favor of a procedural motion on Tuesday to advance the bill. The bill amassed substantially more Democratic support in the House, but Senate Democratic leaders rallied to keep their caucus united in a bid to force Republicans to compromise. Democrats’ aggressive push for unity on the ICC bill came after public fractures last week on the Laken Riley Act, a bill relating to undocumented immigration that picked up support from a number of moderate Democrats. It’s unclear whether Senate Republicans plan to make any further attempts to pass the bill or continue negotiations. Two sources predicted that leadership would need to pivot to nominations and other priorities on the agenda.
Read the full story here.