Central Michigan voters head to the polls Tuesday in a crucial special election that will determine which party controls the state Senate, ending a 16-month period where the district lacked representation.
The contest centers on filling the vacancy left by former Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who departed for Congress earlier this year. Currently, Democrats hold a razor-thin 19-18 advantage in the state Senate, meaning a Republican win would create an even 19-19 split.
Democrats achieved complete control of Michigan’s government in 2022, securing the governor’s office and both legislative chambers. However, they surrendered the state House in 2024, making this Senate race critical for maintaining any legislative influence.
Should Republicans capture the seat, they could effectively stall Democratic priorities despite Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II’s tie-breaking authority, since most legislation requires 20 votes to advance.
Three candidates compete for the position: Democrat Chedrick Greene, Republican Jason Tunney, and Libertarian Ali Sledz.
Greene, who works as a firefighter and previously served as a state Senate aide to McDonald Rivet, dominated his February 3rd primary with 60% support against five rivals. Tunney, practicing attorney and former family roofing business executive, secured his party’s nomination with 51% in a four-way Republican primary.
The 35th District encompasses portions of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties along Lake Huron’s shoreline. Though Donald Trump won all three counties in 2024, the specific areas within District 35 remain politically competitive. McDonald Rivet originally captured this seat in 2022 with 53% of votes.
Presidential results highlight the district’s swing nature: Kamala Harris narrowly defeated Trump 49.7% to 48.9% in 2024, powered by strong performance in Saginaw County areas. Trump maintained smaller leads in the Bay and Midland County portions. Joe Biden also carried the district in 2020 by a slightly wider margin.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer scheduled this special election after McDonald Rivet’s January departure, setting the primary for February 3rd and the general election for Tuesday.
The victor will serve the final eight months of the current term. Both major party nominees have already filed paperwork to seek full terms in the August 4th primaries.
Voting concludes at 8 p.m. Eastern Time across District 35. Registered voters within the district boundaries may participate, with same-day registration available.
February’s special primary drew nearly 46,000 participants, with roughly 17,000 votes each from Saginaw and Bay counties, plus about 11,000 from Midland County. The 2022 general election in this district saw approximately 116,000 ballots cast.
Early and absentee voting comprised 43% of Democratic primary ballots and 29% of Republican primary ballots in February, compared to 60% advance voting in the 2024 presidential race. As of Friday, approximately 32,000 ballots had already been submitted for Tuesday’s election.
Vote reporting typically begins shortly after poll closing, with Bay County releasing early vote totals at the end of their tabulation process. Midland and Saginaw counties report advance and Election Day results throughout the evening.
In 2022, initial results appeared at 8:53 p.m. Eastern Time, with nearly 90% counted by 2:23 a.m. and final tallies reported around 5:33 a.m.
The August 4th state primary follows in 91 days, with the 2026 midterm elections scheduled 182 days from Tuesday.
