Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Gary Peters is seen after voting in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Peters is running against Republican Terri Lynn Land for the seat of retiring Democrat Carl Levin. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Photo: )
WASHINGTON -- Gary Peters. Does the name ring any bells?
No?
He's a United States senator, a Democrat from Michigan. But he also sits on the lowest rung of the senatorial ladder, ranking 100th out of 100 in terms of his power in the chamber. Not only is he a freshman, and not only is he in the minority party, but he's the lone Democrat in his class of 13 newcomers.
When The Huffington Post informally polled a handful of Capitol Hill reporters a couple of weeks ago, some of them didn't even know who Peters was.
"Really?" said one reporter, whose name is being withheld for face-saving purposes. "He's a current senator?"
Nobody even noticed that Peters wasn't listed as a senator on the official Senate Democratic website until May of this year, when his staff caught it. Here's the Senate Democratic website as it appeared in April, without Peters.
Poor Gary Peters.
He's like the kid who finally makes it to high school, only to find that all the other freshmen have formed cliques without him. His Republican classmates tease him about holding meetings. Alone.
"We ask him when he has his freshman caucus meeting if it's hard to get a quorum," said Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.).
"There was some hope at the beginning that maybe he'd just want to go along to get along and sign some papers and join us," said Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). "But he didn't."
Still, Peters is a good sport. The Senate may be a lonely place at times, but he sees the silver lining of being a one-man caucus.
"Well, on the positive side, I'm immediately launched into leadership as the president of the Democratic freshman class," he said. "I can also say that my class speaks with one voice."
Peters is quick to make jokes, perhaps to mask a deep well of loneliness he feels inside.
For more from The Huffington Post, download our app for iOS or Android.
"So you want to talk to the entire Democratic freshman class?" he said as he headed into a Senate elevator. "We all fit in one elevator."
It's been years since an incoming Senate class has been dominated almost entirely by one party. But Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) can empathize with Peters. When Corker was elected to the Senate in 2006, he was the only Republican in his class of 10 newcomers. That was also the year that Democrats took control of the Senate.
"I think you probably end up feeling, instead of isolated, kind of special," said Corker. "I say that with a degree of humor."
He let out a hearty laugh when told some reporters didn't know who Peters was.
"Look, things change rapidly," said Corker. "He may be the least senior person or only Democrat elected, but if he conducts himself with distinction, as I'm sure he will, people very rapidly will know who he is."
It's not as if Peters is some random person wandering the halls of Congress in search of companionship. He served in the House from 2009 to 2014, so he knows some senators who previously worked there with him, like Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). Gardner and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) both migrated from the House to the Senate with Peters this year, too.
Being forced to co-mingle with the opposite party has had its advantages. Peters has gotten to know 12 Republicans he might not otherwise have found much common ground with. Their spouses have met, he's done events with them and they've co-sponsored bills together. Peters worked with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to pass a human trafficking bill last month. He and Gardner formed the Smart Transportation Caucus, he co-authored a trade letter with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and he's introduced student loan legislation with Capito.
"We always joke with him about being elected unanimously to lead his caucus, but he's got a great personality and he's fun to work with," said Tillis. "I fully expect he and I will do a fair amount of work together."
His GOP classmates try to include him when they meet socially, too. Last month, when they organized a freshman get-together, Peters was asked to come along.
"He's such a good sport," said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). "We take him under our wing. He's got a lot of experience on his own. So he's a valued member of the freshman class."
"He's been a part of it. We talk to him. We include him," said Gardner. "He's not picked last on the Senate basketball team."
Like the teenager who goes off to college, leaving his high school friends behind, Peters could always drift back to the House to hang out with his old buddies. But so far, he's resisted the urge. Instead, he's trying to form new relationships and is eager to know if his efforts are working.
"What did they say?" he asked HuffPost, curious about how his GOP colleagues had described him for this article.
He seemed touched to learn they sang his praises.
"That's nice to hear," he said. "That's actually great."
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Peters is ranked dead last among senators in terms of seniority. In fact, he ranks 89th, based on his previous House service. He does, however, rank dead last in terms of actual clout, since he is the only member of the minority party in the freshman class.
Pure Joy
Rep.-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) reacts after drawing the No. 4 chip during the New Member Orientation Room Lottery Draw for office space at the Capitol on Dec. 1, 2016.
Dabbing
Rep.-elect Anthony Brown (D-Md.) strikes a dab pose during the New Member Orientation Room Lottery Draw for office space at the Capitol on Dec. 1, 2016. Brown drew No. 34.
Pelosi Victory
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks to the media after winning the House Democratic leadership election on Nov. 30, 2016.
Kaine Returns
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) arrives in the Capitol for the Senate Democrats' policy lunch on Nov. 16, 2016, after returning from the campaign trail.
New Leadership
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) leaves after the weekly Senate Democratic policy luncheon at the Capitol on Nov. 16, 2016. Schumer was elected as the incoming Senate minority leader in the morning.
Senate Visit
Sen.-elect Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is surrounded by reporters who were questioning Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) after the Senate Democratic Caucus leadership elections in the Capitol on Nov. 16, 2016.
Renominating Ryan
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is seen at a press conference at the Capitol on Nov. 15, 2016, after he was renominated by his conference to hold the position in the upcoming Congress.
Just The Hats For The Job
Make America Great Again hats sit on chairs before the start of a morning Republican event at the Capitol on Nov. 15, 2016.
National Debt
As the number of the current U.S. national debt is seen on a screen, Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen testifies during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee on Sept. 28, 2016, on Capitol Hill.
Hanks
Tom Hanks attends the launch of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's "Hidden Heroes" campaign at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center on Sept. 27, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Wide-Eyed
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs hearing, "Fifteen Years After 9/11: Threats to the Homeland," on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27, 2016.
'Doug Stamper' On The Job
Actor Michael Kelly, who plays Doug Stamper on "House of Cards," take a selfie with a fan in the Capitol while on the Hill advocating for the Older Americans Act on Sept. 21, 2016.
Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Trump (center), daughter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, meets with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and other women GOP members of Congress at the Republican National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill on Sept. 20, 2016.
Rotunda Stroll
San Suu Kyi, state counsellor of Myanmar, and Frank Larkin, Senate sergeant-at-arms, walk through the Capitol Rotunda between meetings with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate leaders on Sept. 15, 2016.
Quacky Day
Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) speaks with reporters as he leaves the House Republican Conference meeting with GOP nominee for Vice President Mike Pence at the Capitol Hill Club as a man in a duck costume stands behind him on Sept. 13, 2016. The unidentified man in the costume holds a sign calling on Donald Trump to release his tax returns.
Back With Congress
From left, U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence joins House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) for a news conference following a weekly policy meeting at the Republican headquarters on Capitol Hill on Sept. 13, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Push For Banning Assault Weapons
Rep. Jerrold Nadler joins members of MoveOn.org and other members of Congress at an event to demand that Congress renew an assault weapons ban. They delivered more than 1 million signed petitions to the Capitol on July 12, 2016.
Attorney General Testifies
Attorney General Loretta Lynch is sworn in before giving testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on July 12, 2016.
Black Lives Matter
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), center, marches with a group of demonstrators from Capitol Hill to The White House on July 7, 2016. Protesters gathered in Washington in response to the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
FBI Testimony
FBI Director James Comey testifies before the House Oversight Committee on the agency's investigation into Hillary Clinton's email system on July 7, 2016.
Protest For Gun Reform
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wears a rainbow armband as she attends a news conference accompanied by members of the House Democratic Caucus to call on House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on gun violence prevention legislation on June 22, 2016.
Democrats' Sit-In
A photo shot and tweeted from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. House Rep. Katherine Clark shows Democratic members of the House staging a sit-in on the House floor "to demand action on common sense gun legislation" on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 22, 2016.
India In The House
Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan look on as India Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledges applause as he arrives to address a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 8, 2016.
Hollywood On The Hill
Actress Helen Mirren testifies before a joint Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing to discuss legislation to "facilitate the return of stolen artwork by the Nazis during the Holocaust" on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 7, 2016.
Subway Servicing
Capitol crews work to restore service to the Senate subway line running to the Russell Senate Office Building on May 17, 2016. The trains were out of service as senators made their way to the Capitol for the weekly Senate policy luncheons.
Rally By The Reflecting Pool
Bunny Woloszczak of Hurleyville, New York, places a protest sign near the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool as part of a "We The People Rally" to bring awareness about Lyme disease May 19, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Fighting Addiction
U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) speaks during a news conference on the opioid epidemic on May 19, 2016, on Capitol Hill. Legislators held a news conference to discuss their support for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.
Can You Tell Me How To Get...
Sesame Street's Elmo and Rosita pose with Capitol visitors as they walk through the halls of the Rayburn House Office Building after participating in the USO event to assemble care packages for troops on May 17, 2016. Some 1,500 care packs were stuffed in celebration of the USO's 75th anniversary.
Standing Up For Young Athletes
Karen Zegel, whose son Patrick Risha (photograph on the table) took his own life after suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations during a hearing about concussions in youth sports in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2016.
The Donald Visits
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives at the Republican National Committee for a meeting with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 12, 2016.
Silent Snickers
From left, Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) conduct a news conference on April 20, 2016, in the Capitol to discuss the federal government's role in strengthening drinking water infrastructure. They are reacting to Schumer's decision to not make remarks.
Anti-Trafficking Efforts
From left, Shandra Woworuntu, a survivor of sex-trafficking, Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) prepare for a news conference to announce Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act on the East Front of the Capitol on April 20, 2016.
GRAMMYs On The Hill
Singer, songwriter, actor and author Tyrese Gibson (left) and Kathy Sledge (center) of Sister Sledge lead participants of GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day in a busking demonstration in Upper Senate Park on Capitol Hill on April 14, 2016. (Photo by Paul Morigi/WireImage for The Recording Academy)
Democracy Spring
Activists of the grassroots Democracy Spring movement carry signs during a march near the Capitol on April 14, 2016.
Police And Protesters
U.S. Capitol Police officers push back Democracy Spring protesters calling for the end of big money in politics from the Capitol steps on the East Plaza of the Capitol on April 13, 2016.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Fanatics said, “rejected or ignored every request” from the company while refusing to fulfill obligations of their contract that was signed last May.
Clark set the Indiana Fever’s franchise record for turnovers (10), shot 5-of-15 from the floor and struggled with the Connecticut Sun’s physical defense.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will be offering a little more than usual for some trade-ins starting next week in the US and Canada. That's as long as you're getting one of the iPhone 15 models.
Vanguard has long had a reputation for eschewing the random fees asset managers are known for. But as our contributing columnist Allan Sloan notes, the company has started charging what he calls chintzy fees.
Yahoo Sports NBA draft expert Krysten Peek is back for another season of On the Clock with Krysten Peek. Krysten just spent the week in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine and kicks off draft season joined by CBS Sports' Kyle Boone.
