Democrat Chedrick Greene won a special state Senate election in Michigan on Tuesday.
Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, defeated Republican Jason Tunney, a former prosecutor, in the special election to replace Democratic U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned from the state Senate after she was elected to Congress in 2024.
According to unofficial results, Greene defeated Tunney with 58.9 percent of the vote to 39.4 percent, securing Michigan’s 35th Senate District—which covers communities in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.
Greene’s victory ensures Democrats retain control of the narrowly divided Michigan State Senate.
This win continues a special election trend during President Donald Trump’s second term, as Democrats have outperformed former Vice President Kamala Harris’ showing in the 2024 presidential race.
With 94 percent of the expected vote counted, Greene led Tunney by more than 19 points in Michigan’s 35th Senate District, which is located in the Saginaw Bay area. In 2024, Harris won the district by just over 1,000 votes—a margin of 50.4 percent to President Donald Trump’s 49.6 percent.
Greene’s victory also means Democrats will hold a 20-18 majority in the Senate. Democrats control the governorship in Michigan, a key battleground state, while Republicans have a 58-52 edge in the state House.
A resounding victory in this district is an especially welcome sign for Democrats ahead of November’s midterm elections, since this area of the state is at the heart of Trump’s blue-collar coalition.
The district includes parts of Saginaw, Midland and Bay Counties—largely white and working-class communities, though Saginaw City has a sizable Black population. Between one-fifth and one-third of adults in these counties have college degrees. The region also encompasses manufacturing and agricultural industries.
“We delivered this decisive victory by listening and speaking to the things keeping everyday people up at night—worries about affordability, safety, and freedom,” Greene said. “I am honored to have earned the trust of so many voters across SD35.”
“And I am excited to go to Lansing to fight for every policy and dollar that helps hardworking men and women build better lives here in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties and sets our kids up for brighter futures,” he added.
“Chedrick Greene just rounded out our special election season with a decisive victory in one of the highest-stakes battleground districts in the country,” said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
Historic trends show that the party in power in the White House typically fares poorly in midterm cycles. Tuesday’s results likely set off warning signs for Michigan Republicans. President Donald Trump faces record-high disapproval ratings amid high fuel prices due to the ongoing U.S. war in Iran and continued economic inflation, though there are still six months for those trends to turn around before November.
