{"id":2598884,"date":"2026-05-05T09:39:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-the-radar-race-will-decide-michigan-senate-control-in-whitmers-final-year\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T09:40:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:40:42","slug":"under-the-radar-race-will-decide-michigan-senate-control-in-whitmers-final-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-the-radar-race-will-decide-michigan-senate-control-in-whitmers-final-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Under-the-radar race will decide Michigan Senate control in Whitmer&#8217;s final year"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Funder-the-radar-race-will-decide-michigan-senate-control-in-whitmers-final-year%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598884&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>tuesday\u2019s special election in Michigan\u2019s 35th State Senate District will determine control of the chamber for Gov. gretchen Whitmer\u2019s final year.Democrats currently hold a 19-18 advantage with one vacant seat following Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet\u2019s move to the U.S. house. A Republican flip would shift the Senate to an even 19-19 split, increasing GOP leverage.<\/p>\n<p>The district\u2019s margin is tight after 2020 redistricting: McDonald Rivet won in 2022 by 6.8 points, but the underlying counties in the district voted heavily for Donald Trump in 2024. The race features Democrat Chedrick Greene, Republican Jason Tunney, and Libertarian Ali Sledz. If Tunney wins, Republicans could push for bipartisan bill support, even though Democrats retain a tie-breaking mechanism through Lt. gov. Garlin Gilchrist II.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond party control, the election is seen as a test of voter turnout and issue priorities ahead of the 2026 midterms in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/update-corrupted-software-that-stole-6000-votes-from-trump-in-michigan-county-shut-down-for-two-hours-in-red-counties-in-georgia-on-election-day\/\" title=\"Update: Corrupted Software that Stole 6,000 Votes From Trump in Michigan County ...... Shut Down for TWO HOURS in Red Counties in Georgia on Election Day\">swing state<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> voters will head to the polls on Tuesday in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-legislatures\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"532\">state Senate\u2019s 35th District<\/a> to cast ballots that will decide the chamber\u2019s balance of power for Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gretchen-whitmer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2550\">Gretchen Whitmer<\/a>\u2018s (D-MI) final year in office.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats currently hold a 19-18 seat advantage in the Michigan Senate, with one vacant seat after state Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3253442\/kristen-mcdonald-rivet-michigan-trump-district-be-real\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"3253442\">Kristen McDonald Rivet<\/a> left the state chamber for the U.S. House in January 2025. If Republicans can flip the former Democratic seat in Tuesday\u2019s special election, they will have much more negotiating power in the state\u2019s upper chamber.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4554862\/michigan-state-senate-race-decide-chamber-control-whitmer-final-year\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Under-the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-carolinas-under-the-radar-race-between-budd-and-beasley-staying-tight\/\" title=\"North Carolina\u2019s Under...the...Radar Race Between Budd and Beasley Staying Tight\">-radar race<\/a> will decide Michigan Senate control in Whitmer\u2019s final year<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4544246\/what-to-know-indiana-2026-primary-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>What to know about Indiana\u2019s 2026 primary elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4554414\/becerra-hilton-tied-california-gubernatorial-poll\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Becerra and Hilton tied as California governor race tightens: Poll<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graphic by Grace Hagerman \/ Washington Examiner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The candidates running in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/widow-launches-campaign-for-late-husbands-house-seat\/\" title=\"Widow Launches Campaign For Late Husband\u2019s House ...\">general special election<\/a> are Democrat Chedrick Greene, a former Marine and fire captain; Republican Jason Tunney, an attorney; and Libertarian Ali Sledz, a mother of three.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The 35th District, which covers parts of Bay, Saginaw, and Midland counties, has a thin margin after its 2020 redistricting redraw. McDonald Rivet won the state seat in 2022 by a margin of 6.8 percentage points against her GOP opponent, former state representative Annette Glenn. However, each of the counties in the district voted for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> in the 2024 presidential election over former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"748\">Kamala Harris<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bay County swung for Trump by a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.npr.org\/2024-election-results\/michigan.html?section=P\">14.7-point margin<\/a>, Saginaw by a 3.3-point margin, and Midland by a 15.2-point margin. The parts of these counties that make up the 35th District are now more competitive, according to the <em>Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>If Tunney wins on Tuesday and the seat becomes red, the Michigan Senate would have an even 19-19 party-line split. This would give Republicans the ability to insist on bipartisan support for bills to pass, even though Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is the tie-breaking vote and could block single-partisan legislation by abstaining from votes, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2026\/05\/05\/michigan-special-election-35th-district-senate\/89926720007\/\">according<\/a> to the <em>Detroit Free Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The special election will also be an indication of how voters in a close Michigan district, a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >closely watched swing state<\/a>, will show up in the 2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"308\">midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In a state that Trump flipped by 1.4 percentage points in 2024, pundits will be eyeing the margins in the 35th District to see how GOP voters turn out and what the main issues at stake are for voters in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4547563\/midterm-countdown-democrats-lead-gop-path-through\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4547563\">MIDTERM COUNTDOWN: DEMOCRATS LEAD EARLY, BUT GOP SEES A PATH THROUGH THE MAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to a mid-April Emerson College <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/michigan-2026-poll-abdul-el-sayed-mallory-mcmorrow-tied-for-lead-in-democratic-senate-primary\/\">poll<\/a>, 40% of likely Michigan general 2026 primary voters said the economy is the most important issue to them, followed by 15% who said threats to democracy was the most important issue.<\/p>\n<p>Polls in the State Senate race close on Tuesday at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michigan voters vote Tuesday for state Senate control in District 35<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2598885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP20030130039068.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[42974,37975,79123,79124,79125],"class_list":["post-2598884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2026-elections","tag-michigan-politics","tag-senate-control","tag-under-the-radar-race","tag-whitmer-legacy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP20030130039068.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598884"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598888,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598884\/revisions\/2598888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}