In a pivotal election for the Michigan State Senate, Democrats have successfully maintained their control following a special election held in mid-Michigan. The contest for the 35th Senate district seat saw Democrat Chedrick Greene emerge victorious over Republican Jason Tunney, with Libertarian Ali Sledz trailing significantly behind.
Greene, moved by the support he received, expressed his gratitude with emotion on election night. “Michigan 35th Senate District has spoken, and they said loudly and clearly that they want this marine veteran, this retired fire captain, proud union member to be their next state senator,” he declared to an enthusiastic crowd.
Greene’s agenda includes tackling issues such as affordable housing, improving job pay, and addressing medical debt. The seat he won represents parts of Midland, Bay, and Saginaw counties and had been unoccupied since January 2025, following Kristen McDonald Rivet’s transition to Congress.
The scheduling of the special election by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer sparked criticism from Republicans, who accused her of political maneuvering due to the delay. The Democratic majority in the Michigan Senate was notably slim, which would have been further challenged had Tunney secured a win, potentially leading to a deadlock with Democratic Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist poised to break ties.
Tunney reassured his supporters by noting the special election as merely a “halfway point” in the electoral process. As Greene steps in to complete the remaining eight months of the term, constituents in Saginaw, Bay, and Midland counties will reconvene in November to elect a senator for a full term.
Confident in his prospects, Tunney is optimistic about winning the Republican primary and anticipates a larger voter turnout in the November general election. “Special election, low turnout … we’re optimistic going forward for November,” he stated.
With 94% of votes counted, Greene held a significant 20-point lead over Tunney. The election is being closely watched as a potential indicator for Michigan’s mid-term elections, underscored by the 2024 results where the district supported both Republican Donald Trump for president and Democrat Elissa Slotkin for U.S. Senate.
For more details on the special election, visit the Michigan Public Radio’s report.
AJ Jones contributed reporting for this story.
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