Chedrick Greene, a Democrat and Saginaw fire captain, won a special election for Michigan's 35th State Senate District on Tuesday, securing 22,403 votes or 60 percent of the total. Republican Jason Tunney received 14,303 votes or 38.3 percent, while Libertarian Ali Sledz garnered 610 votes or 1.6 percent. Total turnout reached 37,316 votes.

The Associated Press called the race for Greene around 11 p.m. Tuesday, with him leading in all three counties in the district, Saginaw, Bay, and Midland, when about 55 percent of votes were reported. Unofficial results showed Greene at 59 percent early Wednesday morning.

Greene's victory preserves Democrats' 20-18 majority in the Michigan Senate, up from 19-18 before the election. A Republican win would have tied the chamber at 19-19, giving Republicans leverage to block legislation through tie votes broken by Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

The seat became vacant on January 3, 2025, when former Democratic Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned after winning the election to Michigan's 8th Congressional District. The district went without representation for 16 months until Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the special primaries for February 3 and the general for May 5. Republicans criticized the delay as partisan, with Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt calling it "blatantly political."

Greene, a retired U.S. Marine sergeant major with 30 years of service and a 31-year union member, previously served as district assistant to McDonald Rivet. He emphasized affordability, public safety, and working families in his campaign. In his victory speech, Greene said, "This is a win for affordability, for people who do everything right but still struggle because their wages aren’t keeping up with the soaring prices."

Tunney, a Saginaw attorney and former prosecutor, focused on tax cuts, education choice, and public safety. He conceded shortly after 10 p.m. and plans to challenge Greene again in November for the full term. "This is only the halfway point," Tunney said.

Whitmer hailed the result as a "check on Republican policies which have led to skyrocketing gas prices and higher costs." Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad noted Democrats outspent Republicans 10-to-1 in the race.

The 35th District, spanning mid-Michigan, flipped Democratic in 2022 under new maps, with McDonald Rivet winning 53 percent. Kamala Harris carried it narrowly in 2024, 49.7 percent to Donald Trump's 48.9 percent. Both candidates have filed for the November 3 general election, where the seat will be up for a full term.