UPDATE: Peters To Run for 14th District Congressional Seat

UPDATE, 2 p.m.: Gary Peters announced today, officially, that he will seek the 14th Congressional District seat.

 “The creation of this new Congressional District bridges diverse communities and comes at a pivotal time in our nation's history,” Peters said in a prepared statement. 

“Too many families are struggling in our area and I am committed to the urgent task of bringing our communities together while fighting for the issues that unite us: good paying jobs, stronger schools, and protecting critical priorities like Social Security and Medicare.”

Peters 'Extremely Close' to Decision About Congressional Run

Posted 5 a.m. Thursday: Because of redrawn district boundaries, Congressman Gary Peters won't represent Rochester and Rochester Hills after the 2012 election.

But it's still uncertain exactly which district the Bloomfield Democrat will try to represent.

Peters grew up in the Rochester area and has represented the town in Congress since his election in 2008.

But new boundaries for his 9th district don't include Rochester or Rochester Hills; instead, the cities are mostly under the leadership of Sen. Mike Rogers of Brighton.

If Peters were to run in the redrawn 9th district, he would likely square off against Democrat Sander Levin. News reports have recently surfaced that Peters was planning to run in the new 14th district, which includes parts of Detroit and also parts of Oakland County, most notably Farmington Hills, Pontiac and West Bloomfield. Democrat Hansen Clarke is expected to run in the 14th district.

On Wednesday, Peters said he's "extremely close" to making his decision.

"I still have to do a little soul-searching," Peters said while at an event Wednesday in downtown Farmington.

Peters said about half of the new 14th district is in Oakland County. "I have represented every community as a member of Congress or as a state senator," he said. "It's a natural district for me to look at."

He did not comment directly on a MIRS newsletter report that former State Rep. Lamar Lemmons made public a conversation in which Peters reportedly confirmed that he planned a 14th District run, but said, "I am extremely close to making a decision."

"People really want me to do this," Peters added. "Without exception, I'm getting strong encouragement that this is the district I should run in."