Democrats Retain Senate Majority

May 6, 2026

by Liz Gullett

As MLC’s Communications and Social Media Manager, Liz Gullett keeps clients informed and up-to-date on the goings on in Lansing and the Capitol.

Yesterday, residents of the 35th Michigan Senate district voted in a special general election to fill the vacant state Senate seat. Voters overwhelmingly voted for the Democratic candidate, Chedrick Greene, 61%-36%. The Republicans worked to flip the seat, which would have resulted in a 19-19 partisan split in the Senate. Following last night’s results, the chamber will return to the 20-18 partisan split, with the Democratic caucus holding a slim majority.

Chedrick Greene is a U.S. Marine veteran, fire captain, and former district assistant for former State Senator, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet, who previously held the seat. He will be officially sworn into office in the coming weeks and given committee assignments by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. The special election was to fill the remainder of the term, which runs through the end of the year. He will need to run for election in this November’s general election for a full four-year term.

The 35th Senate district includes portions of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties. The seat has been open since former Democratic Senator and now Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned in January 2025 following her election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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