Chedrick Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, defeated Republican Jason Tunney, a former prosecutor, in Tuesday’s special election for Michigan’s 35th State Senate District. The race replaced the seat previously held by Democratic U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned from the state Senate after being elected to Congress in 2024.
Unofficial results show Greene secured 58.9 percent of the vote compared to Tunney’s 39.4 percent. The district encompasses communities in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.
Greene’s victory ensures Democrats maintain control of the narrowly divided Michigan State Senate and extends their chamber majority to 20-18. The win also solidifies Democratic leadership of the state governorship, while Republicans hold a narrow edge in the state House with 58 seats to 52.
In this district—central to President Trump’s blue-collar coalition—Greene outperformed former Vice President Kamala Harris’ showing in the 2024 presidential race. With 94 percent of votes counted, Greene led Tunney by more than 19 points. By contrast, Harris won the district by just over 1,000 votes (50.4% to Trump’s 49.6%) during the presidential election.
“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 stated. “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.
Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, declared: “Chedrick Greene just rounded out our special election season with a decisive victory in one of the highest-stakes battleground districts in the country.”
The outcome aligns with historical patterns indicating that the party holding the White House typically underperforms in midterm cycles. Tuesday’s results likely present significant challenges for Michigan Republicans ahead of November’s midterms. President Trump faces record-high disapproval ratings amid high fuel prices linked to ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and persistent economic inflation.