Election Results
Chedrick Greene, a Saginaw firefighter and Marine veteran, won the special election for Michigan's 35th state Senate District with 59.1% of the vote, defeating Republican Jason Tunney, a businessman and lawyer from Saginaw Township, who received 39.3%. Libertarian candidate Ali Sledz garnered 1.6% of the vote. The final vote tally was 26,730 votes counted, representing 39.6% of expected votes in the district.
County-by-County Performance
Greene demonstrated strong performance across all three counties in the district. In Saginaw County, Greene dominated with 72.1% of the vote compared to Tunney's 26.2%. In Bay County, Greene received 51.7% versus Tunney's 46.6%. Greene's performance was narrower in Midland County, where Tunney led with 50.6% to Greene's 48.4%.
Significance and Context
The special election determined who would fill the vacant seat left by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who was elected to Congress in 2024 and sworn in January 2025. The district had been vacant since January 3, 2025, after months of criticism about the empty seat. Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the special primary election for February 3 and the general election for May 5, 2026. Democrats currently hold a 19-18 majority in the Michigan State Senate, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II holding the tie-breaking vote.
Competitive Race Dynamics
The race was initially viewed as highly competitive. The district voted for Kamala Harris by less than 1 percentage point in 2024. Early returns on election night showed the race appearing competitive, with initial results showing Tunney with about 52% and Greene with about 47%, but those early numbers represented only a fraction of the total expected vote. Greene ultimately prevailed decisively with his final 59.1% share.
Campaign Focus
Tunney's campaign emphasized the governor's delay in calling the special election and focused on public safety, education policies, and lowering taxes. Greene's campaign centered on fighting for policies and resources to help working families in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Democrats' campaign chairman predicted Greene would win by a large margin, while the Michigan Republican Party chairman described the seat as a competitive 50-50 race. 
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