Democrat Greene's Michigan Win Signals Stronger Democratic Momentum
Democrat Greene's Michigan special election win boosts Democratic momentum ahead of midterms.
Event / Politics
Michigan Special Election May 2025
Democrat Chedrick Greene won a special election for Michigan's 35th state Senate District on May 5, 2025, defeating Republican Jason Tunney with 60% of the vote. The victory preserves Democratic control of the Michigan state Senate with a 20-18 majority and continues a national pattern of Democrats outperforming their 2024 presidential results in special elections.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 6 May, 05:06 UTC
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What happened
Michigan's 35th Senate District seen as bellwether for midterm elections
The 35th Senate District is considered a microcosm of Michigan and the broader Midwest due to its competitive nature and demographic composition. The district includes part of Saginaw County, the only Michigan county to back the winning presidential candidate in each of the past five elections. Political analysts viewed the special election as an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of the November midterm elections, particularly regarding economic issues such as fuel prices and inflation affecting voter budgets.
Democrats outperform 2024 presidential results in special election
Greene's special election victory continues a national trend of Democrats outpacing Republicans in special elections since the 2024 presidential race. In the 35th District, Democrat Kamala Harris won by less than one percentage point (49.7% to 48.9%) in 2024, while Greene won decisively with 60% of the vote. Analysis by POLITICO found that in more than 200 state and federal elections since the 2024 presidential election, Democrats have gained ground compared to their 2024 results in significantly more races than Republicans.
Democrat Chedrick Greene wins Michigan state Senate special election
Democrat Chedrick Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, defeated Republican Jason Tunney, a former prosecutor, in a special election for Michigan's 35th state Senate District on May 5, 2025. Greene secured 60% of the vote compared to Tunney's 38.3% with 55.3% of expected votes counted. The district includes communities in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties, located approximately 100 miles north of Detroit.
Democrats maintain state Senate majority with Greene victory
Greene's victory gives Democrats a 20-18 majority in the Michigan state Senate, up from their previous 19-18 advantage. This result ensures Democrats can pass legislation without relying on the tiebreaking vote of Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and prevents Republicans from blocking bills through abstention. The seat was vacant since January 2025 following the resignation of Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet.
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