The long-awaited race will determine if Democrats are able to maintain their slim one-seat majority in the chamber for the final months of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's tenure.

The highly anticipated 35th state Senate District special election will accept early votes from Saginaw County residents beginning Saturday, April 25th, 2026.

In 1979, Saginaw voted to impose a $3.8 million hard cap on the amount of property taxes it could collect from residents. While the city has voted seven times to keep the cap in place for nearly five decades, some residents are pushing to remove it.

The high-stakes special election in Midland, Bay and Saginaw counties on May 5 will determine if Democrats can control the state Senate for the reminder of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's final term in office.

Democrat Chedrick Greene and Republican Jason Tunney both held campaign events in Midland on Wednesday to rally support for a special election on May 5 that will determine if Democrats in the Michigan Senate will be able to maintain their one-seat majority.

A forum for the upcoming special election will not include Libertarian Ali Sledz. SVSU said she doesn't meet their forum guidelines, but the League of Women Voters of Michigan says all candidates should be on the stage.

A national Democratic party group is focusing resources on Michigan’s 35th state Senate District. Analysts have framed the mid-Michigan area as a bellwether for the country’s political climate.

The outcome of the May 5th general election could have big implications for the state Senate, as Democrats hold only a one-seat majority.

The group ProgressiveMI has spent thousands of dollars on ads for Pamela Pugh. Democratic leaders say ProgressiveMI is tied to a conservative ad firm, seeking to sway the race.

The outcome of the May special election in the 35th District could have major consequences for Senate Democrats who currently hold only a one-seat majority.