Democrat Chedrick Greene has won a closely watched special election in Michigan, securing continued Democratic control of the state Senate for the remainder of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s term.
Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, defeated Republican Jason Tunney, a former prosecutor, in the race for the 35th Senate District, which includes Saginaw and Bay City. The district is surrounded by more conservative rural areas, making the contest highly competitive. The victory helps Democrats maintain their slim majority in the chamber.
Greene thanked supporters after his win and pledged continued representation for residents.
“I just want you to know who’s had your back for 31 years and you can be sure I’ll still have your backs in Lansing,” he said.
Libertarian candidate Ali Sledz finished a distant third. Tunney conceded defeat but said he intends to contest again in November, noting that the current term only runs until the end of the year before another election is held.
The race was widely viewed as a political indicator ahead of upcoming elections in the battleground state.
With about 55% of the expected vote counted, Greene led Tunney by 22 points in the district. In contrast, in the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris narrowly carried the same district by just over 1,000 votes, with 50.4% to Donald Trump’s 49.6%.
The result is also seen as part of a broader trend of Democrats overperforming in special elections during President Donald Trump’s second term compared to the 2024 presidential results.
The campaign drew major political figures from both parties. Governor Gretchen Whitmer campaigned for Greene, while former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Michigan resident, also supported him on the trail. On the Republican side, Tunney was joined by GOP Rep. John James, who is currently running for governor.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, who previously held the seat, described the district as a key political snapshot of the region.
“It’s really this microcosm of the Midwest, frankly,” she said. “Given how much it resembles so many other places across the country, we have to look at it and say, this is an indicator of how things are going to go in November.”
