Chedrick Greene Defeats Jason Tunney To Keep Michigan State Senate Control

Democrat Chedrick Greene won Michigan’s 35th Senate District special election on Tuesday, defeating Republican Jason Tunney and securing Democrats’ control of the state Senate through the remainder of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s term. The seat was left vacant since January 2025, when Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned after being elected to the U.S. House, and the district includes Saginaw and Bay City and is surrounded by more conservative rural areas. Greene, a firefighter and Marine veteran, told cheering supporters at a watch party, “I just want you to know who’s had your back for 31 years and you can be sure I’ll still have your backs in Lansing,” as the outcome preserved a narrow Democratic majority. The AP reported that Democrats had held a one-seat majority in the chamber, putting control at stake, and that the term at play runs only through the end of the year before the seat is up for reelection again in the fall.

“Live Results: Michigan State Senate Special Election By 270toWin Staff May 5, 2026, 5:28 AM ET While primaries in Ohio and Indiana will draw most of the attention Tuesday, a special election in Michigan will determine if Democrats can maintain full control of the State Senate”

270toWin

Tunney conceded the race, saying he “fell short” but vowing to run again in November, while the Libertarian candidate Ali Sledz lagged far back in third for the seat left vacant since January 2025. The election was framed as a test of voter sentiment ahead of the midterms, with the AP noting it offered “clues about midterms” as Democrats sought to regain power in Congress. Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet described the district as “this microcosm of the Midwest, frankly,” and said, “this is an indicator of how things are going to go in November.” In Saginaw, John Hall, a 69-year-old self-described independent, said he voted for Greene with the economy the pressing issue, adding, “It’s taking a bite out of a lot of people’s budgets right now.”

With Greene’s victory, Democrats kept control of the Michigan Senate at 20-18 through the end of the year, and the seat will be back up for election in November for the full term. The Hill described how the district’s vacancy—since Kristen McDonald Rivet was sworn in as a U.S. congresswoman in January 2025—had left it without representation for 16 months, and it said Greene was expected to serve the final eight months before running as the incumbent in the regular August primary. The Hill also explained the stakes for legislation in the final months of Whitmer’s term, noting that a 19-19 tie would have been breakable by the Democratic lieutenant governor but that Republicans could have withheld votes to prevent Democrats from reaching the 20-vote threshold required to pass legislation. In his concession, Tunney said, “This is only the halfway point,” and he added, “As we head into November, the contrast between Chedrick and myself will only become clearer to more and more voters,” setting up the next contest for control of the seat.

“Democrat Chedrick Greene is projected to be the winner of the special election for Michigan Senate's 35th District on Tuesday”

CBS News