Ballots Mailed for May 5 Special Election in Crucial 35th Senate District

Midland County voters began receiving absentee ballots for the Michigan Senate special election in the 35th District on Friday, March 27. The election will determine whether Democrats maintain their narrow 19-18 majority in the state Senate or lose their slim advantage to Republicans.

The Midland City Clerk's Office began mailing absentee ballots to registered voters on the Permanent Absent Ballot Mailing list and to those who requested them for the May 5 Special Election. The ballots will arrive by mail in a white envelope with a blue stripe on the left side labeled "Official Election Mail."

The 35th District special election will fill the vacancy left by Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2025. The winner of the special election will serve out the remaining seven months of the term and will then need to run again on the November midterm ballot to continue serving through 2030.

Three candidates are running in the race:

  • Republican Jason Tunney, a Saginaw lawyer and businessman
  • Democrat Chedrick Greene, a Saginaw firefighter and Marine Corps veteran
  • Libertarian Ali Sledz, a Midland mother and Army spouse pursuing a master's degree in counseling

The special election covers parts of Midland, Bay and Saginaw counties and represents a bellwether district for the country's political climate. Analysts view the race as potentially crucial for understanding the national political mood heading into the 2026 midterms.

Ballot Return Options

City of Midland voters can return their completed absentee ballot by:

  • Mailing the signed and sealed postage-paid purple return envelope via United States Postal Service
  • Dropping the signed and sealed purple return envelope in any of the Official Ballot Drop Boxes available 24/7 at the following locations:

- City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth Street

- Midland Civic Arena, 405 Fast Ice Drive

- Jack Barstow Municipal Airport, 6603 Barstow Drive

  • Taking the ballot in the return envelope to their polling location on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5, while polls are open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Voters may obtain an absentee ballot application at the Midland City Clerk's Office, 333 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640, or online at www.Michigan.gov/vote. To track if an application has been received, a ballot has been mailed, or a ballot has been delivered back to the Clerk's Office, visit the Michigan Voter Information Website at www.Michigan.gov/vote.

Why This Race Matters

The Michigan Senate special election could determine control of the chamber. Democrats currently hold a slim 19-18 majority, and if Republican Jason Tunney is elected to the seat, it would put the chamber at a tie. Though Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist can cast a tie-breaking vote, he can only do so if every member is present and there is a 19-19 tie, making this seat crucial for Democrats to maintain their control of the chamber.

The winner will have significant influence over the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and key legislative decisions. The race has drawn national attention from both parties, with Democrats pouring resources into the district and Republicans viewing it as a potential bellwether for the fall election.

Campaign Issues

The candidates have debated several key issues, including:

  • Budget priorities: Tunney has called for budget cuts and tax cuts, while Greene supports using the rainy day fund to balance the budget and fund key programs
  • Education funding: Tunney criticized free breakfast and lunch programs for public schools as a waste of taxpayer money, while Greene emphasized the economic demographics of the district
  • Gun control: Greene supports red flag laws and proper firearm storage, while Tunney views Extreme Risk Protection Orders as a constitutional violation

The special election highlights the stakes of the broader 2026 midterm election landscape. The outcome could shape Michigan's legislative agenda for the remainder of 2026 and set the tone for November's larger elections.

Tracking Your Ballot

Voters can track if their ballot has been mailed to them at www.Michigan.gov/vote. Absentee ballots will arrive by mail in a white envelope with a blue stripe on the left side labeled "Official Election Mail." The envelope will contain the ballot, a secrecy sleeve, an instruction sheet, and a postage-paid white and purple return envelope which must be signed and used to return the completed ballot.