Chedrick Greene Defeats Jason Tunney To Keep Michigan Senate Democrats In Control

Democrat Chedrick Greene won a special state Senate election in Michigan, NBC News projected, keeping Democrats in control of the closely divided chamber in a key battleground state.

“by Lowell Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, May 7”

Blue Virginia

Greene defeated Republican Jason Tunney in the special election to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, and with 94% of the expected vote in Greene led Tunney by more than 19 points in Michigan’s 35th Senate District.

Blue Virginia

NBC News reported that Greene’s victory means Democrats will hold a 20-18 majority in the Senate, while Republicans have a 58-52 edge in the state House.

State Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel said of the 35th District, "It looks like America. It looks like Michigan," and he added, "If you can win here, you can win anywhere in America and anywhere in Michigan".

Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad said in a statement Tuesday night that Republicans were outspent in the race, and Hertel dismissed that argument by saying, "If you lose you have to come up with an excuse."

Democratic senators threatened a partial government shutdown if ICE funding is not withdrawn after the death of Alex Pretti, with the Senate set to resume sessions this Tuesday to approve a budget that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

The House sent to the Senate in a single package six funding bills pending, including $64.4 billion for the DHS, of which $10 billion is allocated to ICE, and to pass the package the Senate needs 60 votes so at least seven lawmakers must join the 53 Republicans.

EL PAÍS

Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said on X that she would not support the DHS bill as it stands and wrote, "federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences."

The article says the DHS bill needs to be split off from the larger funding package before the Senate, and it adds that if senators do not act by midnight Friday, funding for the DHS and the other federal agencies covered by the six bills will expire.

It also reports that Chuck Schumer warned Democrats would not support the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included, writing, "What is happening in Minnesota is appalling—and unacceptable in any American city."

In the United States, politicians from across the political spectrum voiced disagreement with Donald Trump’s plan to annex Greenland, with a delegation led by Democratic Senator Christopher Coons preparing to meet Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

“(Des Moines) Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, thereby preventing Republicans from regaining control of the upper chamber with a two-thirds majority”

La Presse

The article says Denmark seeks a cooperation that respects territorial integrity, according to Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and it reports that the delegation of American lawmakers, consisting of 11 members, will meet this Friday, January 16, with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said on Wednesday, January 14 that "the idea that the United States would be ready to take control of Greenland, a territory independent of the Kingdom of Denmark, is absurd."

The article also reports that a Reuters-Ipsos poll found only 17% of Americans approve of their president's ambitions regarding Greenland, and it adds that a broad majority of Democrats and Republicans (96%) oppose the use of armed forces.

It further quotes Democratic Senator Chris Coons saying, "At a time when international instability is increasing, we must draw closer to our allies, and not push them away."