Democrats keep control of Michigan state Senate after special election win

Democrat Chedrick Greene has won a special state Senate election in Michigan, NBC News projects, ensuring his party will keep control of the closely divided chamber and notching a Democratic win in a key battleground state.

Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, defeated Republican Jason Tunney, a former prosecutor, in the special election to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned from the state Senate after she was elected to Congress in 2024.

And Greene continues a special election trend during President Donald Trump’s second term of Democrats outperforming former Vice President Kamala Harris’ showing in the 2024 presidential race.

With 94% of the expected vote in, Greene led Tunney by more than 19 points in Michigan’s 35th Senate District, which is in the Saginaw Bay area. In 2024, Harris won the district by just over 1,000 votes, or 50.4% to President Donald Trump’s 49.6%.

Greene’s victory also means Democrats will hold a 20-18 majority in the Senate. Democrats also control the governorship in Michigan, a key battleground state, while Republicans have a 58-52 edge in the state House.

Republican Jason Tunney speaks with supporters on April 27 in Freeland, Mich. Paul Sancya / AP

A resounding victory in this district is an especially welcome sign for Democrats ahead of November’s midterm elections, since this area of the state is at the heart of Trump’s blue-collar coalition.

The district includes parts of Saginaw, Midland and Bay Counties, which are largely white and working-class, though Saginaw City has a sizable Black population. Between one-fifth and one-third of adults in these counties have college degrees. The region also encompasses manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Saginaw County in particular has reflected electoral shifts in the Trump era. The county swung more than 10 points towards the GOP when Trump first ran for president in 2016, and he then narrowly lost it in 2020.

But Trump carried Saginaw County by 3 points in 2024, as he went on to win Michigan and the presidential race.

The swingy area attracted some high-profile members of both parties to the district ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer headlined a rally for Greene last week, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Michigan resident, also recently campaigned with Greene. Tunney hit the campaign trail with GOP Rep. John James, who is running for governor.

Greene focused on an economic message in his campaign, noting in one campaign ad that he is focused on vocational training for students who are not going to college. He also stressed his military service.

Tunney, meanwhile, highlighted his working-class roots, with one campaign ad saying he would “fight to make sure that [American] dream is still within reach for everyone.”

It can be difficult to extrapolate November results from what happens in special election, which typically see much lower turnout. But Greene’s resounding win underscores that Democrats continue to be energized, and that the party’s message can win over independents and even some Republicans.

NBC News Top Stories wp:paragraph