Michigan State Senate District 35 special election, 2026

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Three candidates — Chedrick Greene (D), Jason Tunney (R), and Ali Sledz (L) — are running in the special general election for Michigan state Senate District 35 on May 5, 2026. The winner will serve the remainder of Kristen McDonald Rivet's (D) term ending in January 2027. Rivet resigned the seat on January 3, 2025, after being elected to the 8th Congressional District in 2024. Greene and Tunney lead in media attention ahead of the election.

The race could affect control of the Michigan Senate, where Democrats currently have a 19-18 majority. If Greene wins, Democrats would maintain control of the chamber. If Tunney wins, the chamber would tie 19-19, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II (D) casting tie-breaking votes.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) President Heather Williams said, "This election will set the tone for the midterms as we work to build state power across the country to safeguard against Trump’s abuses of power and his agenda that is raising costs. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the DLCC will be with Michigan Democrats every step of the way between now and November."^[1]

Republicans opposed the delay in scheduling the special election for the seat, which became vacant in January 2025. Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) said, “It seems like Gov. [Gretchen] Whitmer is very intent on doing the most political thing, because it seems like they’re afraid they’re going to lose the seat to Republicans. It’s blatantly political, partisan politics that they’re playing.”^[2]

Greene is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, retiring as a sergeant major, and the Saginaw fire captain.^[3] Greene's campaign website described him as "a lifelong resident with deep community roots, a big heart for helping his neighbors, and the leadership needed to help Lansing work better for our families."^[3]

His campaign website lists as priorities: lowering costs, better paying jobs, protecting our rights and democracy, protecting abortion rights and reproductive health, and public safety.^[4] Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Rivet endorsed Greene. Click here for more information about endorsements in the race.

Tunney earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. Tunney was an assistant prosecutor in Saginaw County before joining the law firm Arter & Hadden. He later worked as quality assurance, executive vice president, and general counsel for Duro-Last before starting Tunney Law, PLLC.^[5] Tunney's campaign website said his "approach to governance is rooted in conservative principles: limited government, individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and empowering families and businesses to thrive."^[6]

His campaign website lists as priorities: education and school choice, labor and employment, tax reform, legislative authority, energy policy, infrastructure and Line 5, government transparency, electoral integrity, and public safety.^[7] Americans for Prosperity endorsed Tunney.^[8]

As of March 2026, 61 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2026 in 22 states. Between 2011 and 2024, an average of 70 special elections took place each year. Click here to read more about state legislative special elections in 2026.

Candidates and election results

General election

Special general election for Michigan State Senate District 35

Chedrick Greene, Jason Tunney, and Ali Sledz are running in the special general election for Michigan State Senate District 35 on May 5, 2026.

		Candidate
		Chedrick Greene (D)
		Jason Tunney (R)
	Submit photo	Ali Sledz (L)

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 35

The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 35 on February 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chedrick Greene	60.4	16,081
		Pamela Pugh	27.7	7,371
		Martin Blank	4.5	1,187
		Serenity Salak	2.7	712
		Brandell Adams	2.5	674
	Submit photo	William Morrone	2.2	599

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 26,624
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 35

Jason Tunney defeated Christian Velasquez, Chadwick Twillman, and Andrew Wendt in the special Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 35 on February 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jason Tunney	51.2	9,335
		Christian Velasquez	42.4	7,733
		Chadwick Twillman	3.8	689
	Submit photo	Andrew Wendt	2.6	472

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 18,229
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Special Libertarian convention for Michigan State Senate District 35

Ali Sledz advanced from the special Libertarian convention for Michigan State Senate District 35 on January 17, 2026.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Ali Sledz (L)

	There were no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Voting information

What is the voter registration deadline?

In-person: May 5, 2026
By mail: Received by April 20, 2026
Online: April 20, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

In-person: May 4, 2026
By mail: Received by May 1, 2026
Online: May 1, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

In-person: May 5, 2026
By mail: Received by May 5, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters? Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates? April 26-May 4, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required? No

When are polls open on Election Day? 7:00AM - 8:00PM

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Chedrick Greene

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

30-year, highly decorated U.S. Marine Carrying the highest enlisted rank, Sergeant Major E-9, a rank reached by less than one percent of Marines City of Saginaw Fire Captain and Community Relations Liaison. Firefighter of the Year, 2017 31+ year dues-paying union member: Teamsters (UPS) 5 yrs; International Association of Fire Fighters 26+ yrs 2023-24: Served as Gov. Whitmer appointee on the Statewide Housing Partnership under Michigan State Housing Development Authority 2024: Served as District Assistant for the 35th Michigan Senate District Office under then state-Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet Pragmatic public servant to my core, I put citizens before self and my life on the line for our country and community for three decades.

Too many hardworking families like the one I grew up in are really struggling. We need a strong, credible voice calling out what we need to fix so people can build better lives for themselves in mid-Michigan. I pay attention to my bills, what’s happening in our schools, neighborhoods, and local economy. I know the problems holding people back from getting ahead, and I’m ready to solve them. I have the courage, character, and mission-focus to rise above partisan politics and extremism, and get Lansing working better to make life more affordable, safe, and free for Michiganders. As I’ve done all my life, I’ll be involved in the community and work with folks of all political stripes to get real things done for everyone I’m sworn to serve.

If you work hard, you should be able to afford a good life for yourself and family. My top priority is to make your life more affordable and our region more attractive for better-paying jobs. As State Senator, I'll fight for these priorities to put dollars back in pockets of our working families hit hardest by tariffs and soaring costs. -Expand the Working Families Tax Credit -Establish a Working Parents Tax Credit to help offset child care costs -Expand Free School Meals & PreK -Continue Rollback of the unfair retirement tax -Lower prescription drug prices -Expand Affordable Housing I’ll fight to bring home good-paying jobs, and ensure we have affordable paths to get the education and skills training needed for these jobs.

Jason Tunney

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I'm a lifelong resident of Saginaw and a dedicated father, husband, and community advocate running for Michigan’s 35th State Senate District. As a practicing lawyer and former prosecutor in Saginaw County, I bring real-world legal experience and a deep understanding of public safety and justice. I also spent over 20 years working at Duro-Last, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges Michigan employers face. I'm not a career politician - I'm a small-business leader, local resident, and conservative fighter ready to bring fresh accountability, common-sense solutions, and a strong voice for Bay, Midland, and Saginaw families to Lansing.

My education and professional experience prepared me to serve effectively in the Michigan Senate. I pursued a legal career because I believe in the rule of law, personal responsibility, and public service. As a prosecutor in Saginaw County, I handled serious felony cases and worked directly with law enforcement to keep our communities safe. Later, I brought that legal and analytical background into the private sector, working at Duro-Last and gaining hands-on experience with management, compliance, and workforce challenges. That combination of legal training and real-world business experience gives me a practical, no-nonsense approach to governing. I understand how policy decisions affect classrooms, courtrooms, and job creators alike.

I am running to make Michigan more competitive and affordable for working families. Our state has lost jobs, talent, and opportunity because taxes are too high and government is too heavy-handed. I support lowering Michigan’s income tax from 4.25 percent to 4 percent and continuing to push it down so we can compete with neighboring states like Indiana. Families deserve to keep more of what they earn, and businesses need a climate that encourages growth instead of driving them away. By cutting taxes, reducing unnecessary regulation, and focusing on economic freedom, I will fight to lower the cost of living and make Michigan a place people want to stay, work, and raise a family.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Chedrick Greene (D)

30-year, highly decorated U.S. Marine

Carrying the highest enlisted rank, Sergeant Major E-9, a rank reached by less than one percent of Marines

City of Saginaw Fire Captain and Community Relations Liaison. Firefighter of the Year, 2017

31+ year dues-paying union member: Teamsters (UPS) 5 yrs; International Association of Fire Fighters 26+ yrs

2023-24: Served as Gov. Whitmer appointee on the Statewide Housing Partnership under Michigan State Housing Development Authority

2024: Served as District Assistant for the 35th Michigan Senate District Office under then state-Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet

Pragmatic public servant to my core, I put citizens before self and my life on the line for our country and community for three decades.

Too many hardworking families like the one I grew up in are really struggling. We need a strong, credible voice calling out what we need to fix so people can build better lives for themselves in mid-Michigan.

I pay attention to my bills, what’s happening in our schools, neighborhoods, and local economy. I know the problems holding people back from getting ahead, and I’m ready to solve them.

I have the courage, character, and mission-focus to rise above partisan politics and extremism, and get Lansing working better to make life more affordable, safe, and free for Michiganders.

As I’ve done all my life, I’ll be involved in the community and work with folks of all political stripes to get real things done for everyone I’m sworn to serve.

If you work hard, you should be able to afford a good life for yourself and family. My top priority is to make your life more affordable and our region more attractive for better-paying jobs.

As State Senator, I'll fight for these priorities to put dollars back in pockets of our working families hit hardest by tariffs and soaring costs. -Expand the Working Families Tax Credit -Establish a Working Parents Tax Credit to help offset child care costs -Expand Free School Meals & PreK -Continue Rollback of the unfair retirement tax -Lower prescription drug prices -Expand Affordable Housing

I’ll fight to bring home good-paying jobs, and ensure we have affordable paths to get the education and skills training needed for these jobs.

Jason Tunney (R)

I'm a lifelong resident of Saginaw and a dedicated father, husband, and community advocate running for Michigan’s 35th State Senate District. As a practicing lawyer and former prosecutor in Saginaw County, I bring real-world legal experience and a deep understanding of public safety and justice. I also spent over 20 years working at Duro-Last, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges Michigan employers face. I'm not a career politician - I'm a small-business leader, local resident, and conservative fighter ready to bring fresh accountability, common-sense solutions, and a strong voice for Bay, Midland, and Saginaw families to Lansing.

My education and professional experience prepared me to serve effectively in the Michigan Senate. I pursued a legal career because I believe in the rule of law, personal responsibility, and public service. As a prosecutor in Saginaw County, I handled serious felony cases and worked directly with law enforcement to keep our communities safe. Later, I brought that legal and analytical background into the private sector, working at Duro-Last and gaining hands-on experience with management, compliance, and workforce challenges. That combination of legal training and real-world business experience gives me a practical, no-nonsense approach to governing. I understand how policy decisions affect classrooms, courtrooms, and job creators alike.

I am running to make Michigan more competitive and affordable for working families. Our state has lost jobs, talent, and opportunity because taxes are too high and government is too heavy-handed. I support lowering Michigan’s income tax from 4.25 percent to 4 percent and continuing to push it down so we can compete with neighboring states like Indiana. Families deserve to keep more of what they earn, and businesses need a climate that encourages growth instead of driving them away. By cutting taxes, reducing unnecessary regulation, and focusing on economic freedom, I will fight to lower the cost of living and make Michigan a place people want to stay, work, and raise a family.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Chedrick Greene (D)

As a 30-year Marine veteran, 26+ year firefighter, and 31+ year dues-paying union member, I am passionate about pro-labor and pro-working families policies. Anything that makes a quality life more affordable for hardworking men and women is a priority for me. Across Michigan, and especially in our 35th district, we don't have enough jobs that pay what families need to build their lives here. I am committed to investing in our communities and schools to make them more attractive for economic development, and to equip our workforce with the skills needed to compete for better-paying jobs. No one can thrive if they don't feel safe or free. Part of government's duty is to keep people safe and protect their freedoms.

Jason Tunney (R)

I am personally passionate about fixing our education system, restoring public safety, reducing burdensome regulation, and lowering taxes so Michigan families can thrive. As a former prosecutor, I saw firsthand how broken policies hurt victims, law enforcement, and entire communities, which is why public safety is not theoretical to me. Education matters because strong schools are the foundation of opportunity, workforce readiness, and family stability. I am committed to making sure parents, teachers, and students are supported, not buried under bureaucracy. I am also passionate about cutting unnecessary regulations and lowering taxes that make it harder for businesses to grow and families to get ahead.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

Ali Sledz

Campaign ads

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Chedrick Greene

January 12, 2026

View more ads here:

Campaign website

Jason Tunney

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Jason Tunney while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available for this race, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

Chedrick Greene

Campaign finance

Candidate spending

The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA. Transparency USA tracks loans separately from total contributions. View each candidate’s loan totals, if any, by clicking "View More" in the table below and learn more about this data here.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.^[9]^[10]^[11]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

District history