Chedrick Greene speaks on 5 May 2026 in Saginaw, Michigan. Photograph: Paul Sancya/APView image in fullscreenChedrick Greene speaks on 5 May 2026 in Saginaw, Michigan. Photograph: Paul Sancya/APDemocrats retain control of Michigan senate with ‘overperformance’ in special election Chedrick Greene will have to defend his new perch in midterms, as Republican challenger vows to run again
Chedrick Greene, a Democratic firefighter and marine veteran, won a special election in Michigan on Tuesday, allowing Democrats to retain control of state senate for the remainder of the year.
In the race for Michigan’s 35th senate district, a constituency that former vice-president Kamala Harris won by only a single percentage point in 2024, Greene beat Republican Jason Tunney – clinching more than 58% of the vote, compared with Tunney’s 39%, according to local results. The district includes parts of Bay and Saginaw counties, purple areas of the state.
Donald Trump ultimately won the state in the last election, but Michigan Democrats were hoping to hold on to their narrow majority in the senate ahead of the term-limited governor, Gretchen Whitmer, leaving office in January. Republicans control the state’s lower chamber.
Read more“We delivered this decisive victory by listening and speaking to the things keeping everyday people up at night – worries about affordability, safety and freedom,” Greene told supporters on Tuesday, as he was declared the winner.
Hakeem Jeffries, the US House minority leader, heralded Greene’s win on social media. “State Sen-elect Chedrick Greene’s decisive 19-point overperformance last night ensures Democrats keep control of the Michigan Senate,” Jeffries wrote on X. “A massive defeat for MAGA Republicans!”
The senate seat had been vacant since January 2025, when Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Democrat, left the post after she won a seat in the US House.
Tunney, a former prosecutor, vowed to challenge Greene again when voters return to the polls in November to elect a representative for the 35th district for a full four-year term.
“Tonight, we fell short in the special election, but I’m incredibly proud of what this campaign accomplished together,” Tunney said. “This is only the halfway point. As we head into November, the contrast between Chedrick and myself will only become clearer to more and more voters. I’m excited about what lies ahead, and I’m not going anywhere.”
