Democrats retained control of the Michigan state Senate after Chedrick Greene, a Saginaw firefighter and Marine veteran, defeated Republican Jason Tunney in Tuesday’s special election for District 35. With nearly 60% of the vote, Greene secured a 20-18 Senate majority for his party, ensuring Democrats maintain leadership through the end of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s term.
A decisive win in a pivotal race
Greene’s victory in the May 6 special election was confirmed late Tuesday night, with unofficial results showing him leading Tunney by nearly 20 percentage points. The Libertarian candidate, Ali Sledz, received less than 2% of the vote. The race was closely watched as a referendum on Whitmer’s policies and an early indicator of voter sentiment ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine Michigan’s governor and U.S. senator.
Greene’s win ensures Democrats avoid a 19-19 deadlock in the Senate, where Republicans could have blocked legislation by withholding votes and preventing Democrats from reaching the 20-vote threshold required for passage. Under the state constitution, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, a Democrat, would have broken ties in a 19-19 split, but Republicans would have effectively held veto power by withholding votes.
The seat had been vacant since January 2025, when Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet left to join the U.S. House of Representatives. Whitmer called the special election after months of criticism over the empty seat, with the primary held in February and the general election on May 6.
Why this race mattered
The 35th Senate District, located in Central Michigan, is a competitive swing area that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris by less than one percentage point in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats had already faced setbacks in 2024, losing control of the state House and narrowly holding onto the Senate with a 19-18 majority. A Republican win in this special election would have shifted the balance to a 19-19 tie, complicating Democratic efforts to pass legislation during Whitmer’s final year in office.
Greene’s campaign focused on affordability, safety, and freedom, themes that resonated with voters amid rising costs for gas, groceries, and housing. Whitmer praised Greene’s victory, calling it a rejection of Republican policies that she argued have contributed to economic strain for Michiganders.
Looking ahead to November
Greene will serve the remainder of McDonald Rivet’s term and will run as the incumbent in the August primary election for a full four-year term. Tunney, who conceded the race, indicated he plans to challenge Greene again in November, framing the special election as a preview of the broader midterm contest.
Democratic strategists viewed Greene’s win as a sign of momentum ahead of the November elections. Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, called the victory “undeniable Democratic momentum” in a battleground state. The result also aligns with a trend of Democratic successes in special elections since President Donald Trump’s return to office in 2024.
With the Senate majority secured for now, Democrats can proceed with their legislative agenda, though the November elections will determine whether the governor’s office and U.S. Senate seat remain in Democratic hands. The outcome of this special election underscores the high stakes of the upcoming midterms in Michigan.
