District 35 Following the resignation of
Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned to take a seat in the
United States House of Representatives, a
special election will take place to fill the vacancy. Primary elections took place on February 3, 2026, and the general election took place on May 5, 2026. Democratic governor
Gretchen Whitmer was criticized for the long delay between Rivet's resignation and the calling of the special election, which has left the seat vacant for over a year. This election is considered important because if Republicans win the general election, then the
Michigan Senate would become tied. Six Democrats ran in their primary, with
Pamela Pugh and
Chedrick Greene considered to be the frontrunners. Pugh, the president of the
Michigan Board of Education, was considered to be the more progressive candidate and had the backing of
U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib and multiple state legislators. Greene, a
Saginaw fire captain, had the backing of numerous labor unions and
Kristen McDonald Rivet, the district's most recent senator. Greene won the primary by 33%. Four Republicans ran for their nomination, with attorney Jason Tunney and businessman Christian Velasquez emerging as the frontrunners. Tunney went on to win the primary by 9%.
Eliminated in primary • Brandell Adams, chair of the
Saginaw County Democrats and former
Bridgeport Township trustee • Martin Blank, trauma surgeon and Republican candidate for
Michigan's 8th congressional district in
2024 • Andrew Wendt, former
Saginaw city councilor
Declined •
Bill G. Schuette,
state representative from the
95th district (2023–present)
(running for re-election) Endorsements {{Election box begin no change {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change {{Election box candidate with party link no change {{Election box begin no change {{Election box begin no change == Results summary ==