In the heart of Michigan's Saginaw Bay region, encompassing parts of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties, a special election is finally underway to fill the vacant 35th State Senate District seat. The primary is set for February 3, 2026, with the general election following on May 5. This race, triggered by the resignation of former Democratic Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet, comes after a prolonged vacancy that has left nearly 240,000 residents without representation in the state Senate for over a year. The outcome could tip the delicate partisan balance in Lansing, where Democrats currently hold a razor-thin 19-18 majority, potentially influencing key legislation ahead of the full 2026 elections.

Background: A Vacancy and Controversial Delay

The seat became vacant on January 3, 2025, when McDonald Rivet resigned to take her position in the U.S. House of Representatives after winning Michigan's 8th Congressional District in the 2024 election. Under Michigan law, Governor Gretchen Whitmer had the authority to call a special election to fill the unexpired term, which ends January 1, 2027. However, Whitmer waited more than 235 days—until August 29, 2025—to issue the call, scheduling the primary for early 2026 and the general for May. This delay sparked sharp criticism from Republicans and some residents, who argued it was a strategic move to preserve Democratic control in the Senate during a critical period. Lawsuits were filed by district residents accusing the governor of disenfranchising voters to avoid risking the seat in a competitive special election sooner.

Critics, including Republican leaders, pointed out that the extended vacancy denied constituents a voice on issues like education funding, infrastructure, and economic development in a region known for its agricultural and manufacturing base. Whitmer's administration defended the timeline, citing logistical considerations, but the postponement fueled accusations of partisan gamesmanship. As one resident noted in a lawsuit, the delay left the district "without a senator for an unnecessarily long time," potentially allowing Democrats to push through policies without opposition from this swing seat. The winner of the May general election will serve only about seven months before facing voters again in the November 2026 general election for a full term.

The Competitive Field: Democrats and Republicans Vie for the Seat

The 35th District, redrawn after the 2020 census to create more competitive boundaries, leans slightly Democratic but has shown vulnerability in recent cycles. A recent poll showed it as a toss-up, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading by just one point in the area during the 2024 presidential race. Ten candidates filed for the February primary—six Democrats and four Republicans—reflecting the high stakes.

On the Democratic side, the field includes:

Brandell Adams: Chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party and a former Bridgeport Township trustee.
Martin Blank: A Saginaw trauma surgeon, U.S. Army veteran, and former Saginaw police officer who switched from Republican to Democrat.
Chedrick Greene: A U.S. Marine veteran and professional firefighter from Saginaw.
William Morrone: A Bay City resident running on local issues.
Pamela Pugh: President of the Michigan State Board of Education and a Saginaw resident.
Serenity Hope Salak: A Saginaw resident focused on progressive policies for the district.

Former Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet has not publicly endorsed a candidate in this race, leaving the Democratic primary open without clear establishment backing.

Republicans fielded:

Jason Tunney: A lawyer from Saginaw Township, emphasizing his background in law and business.
Christian Velasquez: A Midland-based businessman, founder and chief strategist of Point North Group (an engineering and business consulting firm).
Andrew Carlos Wendt: A retired teacher and proud legal immigrant.
Chadwick Twillman: The fourth Republican in the mix, though less prominently profiled in early coverage.

The primary will narrow the field to one Democrat and one Republican, who will face off in May. Early voting for the primary begins in late January, with absentee ballots available now.

Potential Impact: Shifting the Balance in Lansing

This special election isn't just about filling a seat—it's a bellwether for Michigan's political future. Democrats seized control of the state Senate in 2022 for the first time in nearly 40 years, flipping it 20-18 through aggressive campaigning and redistricting maneuvers. The vacancy has left them clinging to a fragile 19-18 edge, but a Republican victory could restore balance with a 19-19 deadlock, finally checking Governor Whitmer's expansive agenda in her lame-duck year. Critical issues like burdensome energy regulations, bloated school spending, and extreme positions on abortion could be reined in, particularly as the entire chamber faces voters in November 2026 under maps that have already sparked controversy for favoring urban liberals.

Republicans are poised to capitalize on widespread voter anger over Whitmer's deliberate delay in calling the election, alongside favorable national winds boosting conservatives on pocketbook issues like inflation and border security. Democrats, on the other hand, are scrambling to defend a district that backed Joe Biden in 2020 but has increasingly trended toward commonsense Republican priorities amid economic hardships. The outcome could signal momentum for the broader 2026 races, including high-profile open contests for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and U.S. Senate, where conservatives aim to reclaim ground lost to progressive overreach.

As Michigan voters in the 35th District gear up to vote, this election highlights the vital need for prompt representation and the steep price of partisan stalling tactics. With strong Republican contenders ready to champion taxpayer relief and traditional values, the result could realign the state's legislative priorities much sooner than Democrats might hope.