Three Candidates Vying for Crucial State Senate Seat That Could Tip Michigan's Legislative Balance

SAGINAW BAY REGION — The campaign for Michigan's 35th State Senate District special election is intensifying with just over three weeks remaining before voters head to the polls on May 5. The race has drawn national attention as analysts view it as a bellwether for the upcoming November mid-term elections and as a potential turning point in Michigan's state government.

The vacant seat, left open since January 2025 when former state Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, could determine whether Democrats maintain their narrow 19-18 majority in the Michigan Senate. Whoever wins the election will also have to face voters again in November to complete the full term through 2030.

On the ballot are three candidates representing different political philosophies and approaches to governance.

Republican Jason Tunney: Business Growth and Tax Relief

Republican Jason Tunney, a Saginaw-based lawyer and businessman, has positioned himself as the candidate who will make Michigan more attractive for businesses and job creation. Tunney, who previously worked as an assistant prosecutor in the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office and helped run the family business Duro-Last, argues that the state needs to compete with other business-friendly environments.

At a candidate forum hosted by Saginaw Valley State University on March 24, Tunney drew sharp comparisons between Michigan and Indiana. "We are not a business-friendly state; we are not a tax-friendly state," Tunney said. "The income tax in this state is 4 percent. Indiana's income tax is 2.95 percent. Next year it'll be 2.90 percent. What are we doing to encourage jobs here?"

Tunney's platform centers on several key themes:

Tax Relief and Budget Cuts

Tunney has called for tax cuts and budget reductions to stimulate economic growth. He opposed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's proposal to withdraw $400 million from the state's rainy day fund to balance the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. "We've got to start making some tough decisions in this state," Tunney said at the forum. "We've got to start thinking about tax cuts in this state. We've got to start thinking about budget cuts in this state."

Business Regulations

As a businessman, Tunney advocates for reducing regulations on businesses throughout the state. He has criticized the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, calling it corrupt, and argued that the state should not play favorites when it comes to business incentives.

Skilled Trades vs. College

On education, Tunney has questioned the value of free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students. At the forum, he argued that some of the communities receiving that money are wealthy enough not to need it. "None of those school districts are here," Democratic candidate Chedrick Greene responded when Tunney made that claim. "We have a district that 60 percent makes less than $60,000 gross."

Gun Rights

Tunney has taken a strong stance against what he calls red flag laws, or Extreme Risk Protection Orders. At the forum, he argued that such laws violate a person's constitutional right to bear arms. "But it sounds like Mr. Green said that he wants to, from Lansing, tell you how you keep your guns in your house, in your private property," Tunney said when discussing the issue. He also raised concerns about how the laws interact with mental health rights and medical records.

Tunney's campaign is making inroads across the district. He will be the keynote speaker at the Midland County Republican Party Dave Camp Spring Breakfast on April 13. The event, named after former U.S. Representative Dave Camp, R-Midland, will also feature U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar and State Rep. Bill G. Schuette, both from Midland.

Democrat Chedrick Greene: Affordability and Working Families

Democrat Chedrick Greene, a 30-year U.S. Marine veteran and current Saginaw Fire Department captain, has focused his campaign on making Michigan more affordable for working families. Greene represents a different approach, emphasizing the economic realities of the district's residents.

Greene's platform centers on several key priorities:

Economic Affordability

Greene has repeatedly highlighted the economic demographics of the 35th District. "As you drove here tonight in Saginaw Valley and you looked at the price of gas, or you drove to the grocery store and looked at the price of food, small businesses can't thrive if people aren't visiting those small businesses," he told the forum crowd. He argued that workers need more disposable income to support local businesses.

Minimum Wage Increases

Greene supports increases to Michigan's minimum wage. "So if I don't have disposable income making less than minimum wage, which is currently still too low to survive on, then I'm not going to be able to survive, and those small businesses might not be able to survive," he said. Tunney argued that such increases would harm small businesses, but Greene maintained that current wages are not livable for many workers.

Budget Priorities

On the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Greene supported Whitmer's proposal to take money from the rainy day fund to balance the books. "We are balancing the budget. It's a balancing act, right? So in order to make sure that we are taking care of our constituents, we would take some of the money from the rainy day fund," Greene said. He also criticized House Republicans for holding up the state budget in late 2025.

Gun Safety and Storage

As a Marine veteran, Greene emphasized firearm safety and proper storage. He supports red flag laws as a way to prevent suicides and mass casualty events. "I believe that if you are a menace to the society and it is deemed that way, that you should temporarily have your guns replaced," Greene said when discussing the issue. He also noted that he is a registered firearm owner who makes sure his firearms are locked up.

Education and Skilled Trades

Greene has advocated for pushing more skilled trades into high schools so students who aren't going to college can get an early start on careers. He also supports manufacturers coming to Michigan, arguing that the state has the ability to create jobs locally rather than allowing companies to ship jobs overseas or out of state.

Libertarian Ali Sledz: Limited Government and Individual Freedom

Libertarian Ali Sledz, a Midland mom and Army spouse who is pursuing a master's degree in counseling, rounds out the field of candidates. Sledz brings a different perspective to the race, focusing on limited government and individual freedom.

According to campaign reports, Sledz represents voters who want smaller government and more personal autonomy. Her background as a military spouse and her work in counseling inform her views on governance and public policy.

What's at Stake

The 35th District State Senate seat covers parts of Midland, Bay and Saginaw counties. The district includes communities like Saginaw, Midland, Bay City, and surrounding areas.

The election has implications beyond the immediate legislative balance. The winner will have to run again in November to complete the full term, which means the campaign will likely continue well past May 5.

Why This Election Matters

Democrats currently hold a 19-18 majority in the Michigan Senate, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist able to cast a tie-breaking vote under certain circumstances. If Republican Jason Tunney wins the 35th District seat, the chamber would go into a tie situation that could force Democrats to rely on Gilchrist's vote for every decision.

"This seat is crucial for Democrats to maintain their control of the chamber," noted one observer. "If Tunney is elected to the seat, he would put the chamber at a tie."

The election is also being watched as a potential bellwether for the November mid-term elections. Political analysts are tracking voter sentiment in the Saginaw Bay region as a predictor of outcomes statewide.

Campaign Dynamics

The race has seen several notable campaign events:

  • A candidate forum at Saginaw Valley State University on March 24, where Tunney and Greene debated education funding, minimum wage, budget priorities, and gun control
  • The distribution of absentee ballots beginning March 27 in Midland
  • Tunney's upcoming keynote speech at the Midland County GOP spring breakfast
  • Various campaign rallies and town halls in the district

Both major party campaigns have emphasized the importance of voter turnout, with Greene's team highlighting the district's economic demographics and Tunney's team focusing on business concerns.

Looking Ahead

With Election Day on Tuesday, May 5, candidates will likely continue to make final appeals to voters. The race remains competitive, with both major party candidates and the Libertarian candidate drawing support from different segments of the electorate.

The winner of this special election will serve out the remaining seven months of Kristen McDonald Rivet's term. Rivet, who was the assistant majority floor leader in the Michigan Senate from 2023 to 2025, resigned to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2025.

This election represents more than just a routine special election. It's a contest that could shape Michigan's legislative agenda for the remainder of 2026 and beyond, with implications for the state budget, policy decisions, and the balance of power in Lansing.