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Michigan Senate District 35 will be on a political roller coaster in 2026, with back-to-back elections. Get to know the candidates who will be the next representative!
On May 5, 2026, voters in Michigan’s 35th State Senate District will elect a senator to fill the current vacancy, with the winner serving through the end of the term on December 31, 2026. Then, on November 4, 2026, voters in District 35 will head to the polls again—this time to elect a senator for the full four-year term beginning in January 2027.
The Michigan Senate is made up of 38 members, each representing approximately 247,000 to 273,000 residents. State senators serve four-year terms and are elected in the same cycle as the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.
This article summarizes the current state of the election for District 35 and what’s publicly known so far about the candidates, based on official filings, news reports, and candidate communications. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
Bookmark this page for reference throughout the campaign and follow the candidates on social media. We will be tracking articles about the candidates and will share them with you here.
Table of Contents
About This Article: Last update: 2025-10-24. While we do our best to be thorough and accurate, we might miss something—so always double-check official sources when possible. Michigan Women is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, and our goal is simply to make civic information easier to find and understand.
Are you in Senate District 35?
About the Elections
Democratic Candidates
- Pamela Pugh, President, Michigan State Board of Education
- Chedwick Greene, Captain, Saginaw Fire Department
- Brandell Adams, Chair, Saginaw County Democratic Party
- Serenity Hope Salak, Substitute Teacher, Jessie Loomis Elementary
- Marc Blank, Surgeon
- William Morrone, Chief Medical Officer, Arenac, Bay, Iosco, Midland, and Tuscola Counties
Republican Candidates
- Andrew Carlos Wendt, unknown
- Christian Velasquez, Founder and Chief Strategist, Point North Group
- Jason Tunney, Lawyer, Tunney Law
- Chadwick Twillman, Executive Director, The Mountain Movers Firm
Are you in Michigan Senate District 35?
- Bay County: City: Bay City; Townships: Auburn, Bangor, Beaver, Frankenlust, Fraser, Garfield, Hampton, Kawkawlin, Merritt, Monitor, Portsmouth, Williams.
- Midland County: City: Midland; Townships: Edenville, Hope, Homer, Ingersoll, Jerome, Larkin, Lee, Mills, Mount Haley.
- Saginaw County: City: Saginaw and Zilwaukee, Townships: Buena Vista, Carrolton, Kochville, Saginaw, Tittabawassee
- See the Map.
About the 2026 Special and General Elections for Michigan State Senate District 35
Michigan Senate District 35 will be on a political roller coaster in 2026, with back-to-back elections.
Here's the Breakdown of the Upcoming MI Senate Elections
Election 1: Special Election- Senate District 35 Term (4 years): January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2027
- Senator Elected: Kristin McDonald Rivet (D)
- Vacated: December 31, 2024 (Kristin McDonald elected to represent Michigan's 8th District in the U.S. House)
- Vacancy Period (1 year, 4 Months): January 1, 2025, to May 5, 2026
- Special Primary Election: February 3, 2026
- Special Election: May 5, 2026
- Specially Elected Senator to fill vacancy: TBD
Election 2: General Election
- Senate District 35 Term (4 years): January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2031
- Primary Election: August 4, 2026
- General Election: November 4, 2026
- As of now, all serious contenders for the 2026 general election appear to be running in the special election.
- Senator Elected: TBD
Transitioning from the Special to the General Election
To remain in office beyond December 31, 2026, the specially elected Senator must file for the 2026 general election, win the primary election in August, and then the general election in November. Anyone hoping to serve in Michigan's 35th Senate District is up for a grueling two-election cycle, just months apart.
Even if a candidate loses the special election, they can immediately run again in the regular 2026 cycle—or choose not to. And the person who wins the special election may not be the same person who wins the general election.
Impact of the Special Election
Bills typically require a majority vote to pass the Michigan Senate. With 38 seats, 20 votes are needed to reach a full majority when all seats are filled. With Kristen McDonald in office, the Democrats had exactly 20 votes. So even if all Republicans voted no, the Democrats could still pass their legislation.
When Senator McDonald Rivet left office, Democrats held 20 Senate seats. After her resignation, the chamber shifted to 19 Democrats and 18 Republicans, leaving one seat vacant until the special election. Here’s how that affects voting power:
- Vacancy: With 19 seats, Democrats still have a working majority for most votes (19 is a majority of 37), but the margin is tight, and absences or cross-party votes could change outcomes.
- If a Democrat wins the special election: Democrats return to 20 seats, restoring a clear majority when all senators are present.
- If a Republican wins the special election: The chamber becomes evenly split at 19–19. In that case, the Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate and can cast a tie-breaking vote.
Impact of the General Election
All Michigan State Senate seats are up for reelection in the 2026 general election. That vote will determine the composition of the Senate for the 2027–2031 term and set the balance of power among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
Democratic Candidates
Pamela Pugh (D)
- Website: https://pugh-michigan.com;
- Current Job: Michigan State Board of Education | Regeneration, LLC
- Job Title: President | Owner
- Age: 54
- Date of Birth: 12/20/1970
- City: -
- County: Saginaw
- Articles
Chedrick Greene (D)
- Website: https://chedrickgreene.com/
- Current Job: City of Saginaw Fire Department | U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
- Job Title: Captain | Sergeant Major E-9, Retired (30 years of service)
- Age: 50
- Date of Birth: 11/1975
- City: Saginaw
- County: Saginaw County
- Articles
Brandell Adams (D)
- Website: https://brandelladams.com/
- Current Job: Saginaw County Democratic Party | Michigan Board of Psychology
- Job Title: Chair | Board Member (General Public)
- Age: 35
- Date of Birth: 02/04/1990
- City: -
- County: Saginaw
- Articles
Serenity Hope Salak (D)
- Website: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/serenity-hope-salak
- Current job: Jessi Loomis Elementary
- Job Title: Substitute Teacher
- Age: 40
- Date of Birth: 1985
- City: Saginaw Township
- County: Saginaw
- Articles
Martin Blank (D)
- Website: https://www.blankformichigan.com/
- Current Job: Covenant Healthcare | Saginaw Police Department | U.S. Army
- Job Title: Surgeon | Police Officer | Lawyer | Colonel (Retired)
- Age: 64
- Date of Birth: 1961
- City: Saginaw Township
- County: Saginaw
- Articles
William Morrone (D)
- Website: -
- Current Job: Arenac, Bay, Iosco, Midland & Tuscola Counties | MSU | Recovery Pathways
- Job Title: Chief Medical Examiner | Faculty, College of Osteopathic Medicine | Medical Director & Principal
- Age: 43
- Date of Birth: 1982
- City: -
- County: -
- Articles
Republican Candidates
Andrew Carlos Wendt (R)
- Website: https://wendt4statesenate.thebeartraxs.com/
- Current Job: -
- Job Title: -
- Age: 51
- Date of Birth: -
- City: -
- County: -
- Articles
Christian Velasquez (R)
- Website: https://velasquezforsenate.com/
- Current Job: Point North
- Job Title: Founder & Chief Strategist
- Age: -
- Date of Birth: -
- City: -
- County: -
- Articles
Jason Tunney (R)
- Website: https://www.tunneyforsenate.com/
- Current Job: Tunney Law
- Job Title: Lawyer
- Age: 53
- Date of Birth: 1972
- City: -
- County: Saginaw
- Articles
Chadwick Twillman (R)
- Website: https://chadwicktwillman.com/
- Current Job: The Mountain Mover's Firm (Might be this, can't find company site: https://www.facebook.com/TheMountainMovers2021/)
- Job Title: Executive Director
- Age: 39
- Date of Birth: 1986
- City: -
- County: Saginaw
- Articles
Sources
- 2025-08-25 Governor Whitmer Calls for Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat
- 2025-09-12 Special Election Duties and Deadlines
- Filing Requirements: State Senator
- 2025-04-25 What to know about special elections for state offices in Michigan
- Michigan Election Law (Excerpt) Act 116 of 1954. Vacancy in office of state senator or representative; special or general election; selection and certification of candidate; separate ballot; notice.
- 2024-12-16 Observations on State Laws and Perspectives on Holding Special Elections to Fill House Vacancies
- 2025-07-11 Filling Legislative Vacancies
- 2025-08-02 Michigan’s 35th District has gone more than six months without a state senator (Michigan Advance)
- 2025-04-07 Whitmer mum on ‘critical’ Michigan Senate seat. Critics blame politics
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
- Michigan Senate
- Michigan’s 35th District has gone more than six months without a state senator
Content Disclaimer: Our team researches information from official websites, news outlets, and other public resources to make it easier for Michigan residents to stay informed. We strive to provide accurate, balanced, and up-to-date information, but we may occasionally miss updates or changes. Michigan Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party. This content is intended solely for civic education and public awareness.
