Michigan’s Saginaw Bay area holds a special primary election today to fill the 35th State Senate District seat. Ten candidates are running to replace former State Senator Kristin McDonald Rivet, who was elected to the U.S. House in November 2024. The winner will serve a partial term ending Jan. 1, 2027. Polls close at 8 p.m., and the district includes Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, and Zilwaukee, according to CBS Detroit.
The contenders on the Democratic ticket include Brandell Adams, Martin L. Blank, Chedrick Greene, William Morrone, Pamela Pugh, and Serenity Hope Salak, while the Republicans have Jason Tunney, Chadwick Twillman, Christian Velasquez, and Andrew Carlos Wendt on their roster. The composition of the State Senate hangs delicately, Democrats currently hold a slim lead of 19 to 18, as highlighted by wnem.com. The special election is critical given that the district has been without representation for over a year, influencing decisions on local public services like roads, schools, and safety, without a senatorial voice from the 35th District. Saginaw County, alone holding early voting, saw nearly 500 participants so far, driving up momentum and highlighting the community's desire for representation, conveyed Vanessa Guerra, the Saginaw County Clerk, said in an interview with wnem.com.
Weather may also play a crucial role in the turnout, as a good day could see increased voter participation, emphasized Guerra. Encouraging residents to still leverage the absentee voting option, she stated "If voters still have their absentee ballot in their possession, it needs to be returned to your local clerk by 8pm on election day." Close to 10,000 absentee ballots remain outstanding, a potential determinant in the race's outcome, Guerra added, according to wnem.com.
For voters interested in learning about the candidates, the Michigan Voter Information Center offers resources for registration, candidate lists, and polling locations. The outcome of this closely contested primary will determine who advances to the general election on May 5. WWMT.com provides an in-depth article exploring how this race could influence state politics.
