Overview
- Chedrick Greene, projected the winner Tuesday night, led 58.9% to 39.4% over Jason Tunney in near-complete unofficial counts, and Tunney conceded.
- Democrats now hold 20 seats to Republicans’ 18 in the state Senate, which lets them reach the 20-vote threshold to pass bills without relying on GOP participation.
- The victory secures Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s working majority for her final year and strengthens Democrats in budget talks while Republicans continue to control the state House.
- Greene’s win restores representation to District 35 after a 16‑month vacancy that began when Kristen McDonald Rivet left for Congress, in a seat spanning parts of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.
- The seat is back on the ballot this year with August primaries and a November election, and both Greene and Tunney have filed to run again in what observers view as a test of 2026 midterm dynamics, including recent Democratic overperformance in special elections.