In less than two weeks, the Saginaw-Bay region will once again have a state Senator representing them in Lansing. In addition to the seat being open for nearly 500 days, the result of this election will decide whether Democrats remain in control of the state Senate for the remainder of 2026.
Absentee ballots have been available for all voters for a couple of weeks, and now in-person voting will begin for Saginaw County residents at early polling locations.
Voters will choose who they'd like to see in the seat: Democrat Chedrick Greene, Republican Jason Tunney, or Libertarian Ali Sledz.
Voting turnout is expected to be high for the off-season election due to how long the seat sat empty.
Saginaw Valley State University Political Science Professor Kevin Lorentz told WCMU the election is garnering attention both locally and statewide.
"Given its importance for its partisan control of the Michigan Senate," Lorenz said. He says people are engaged "because they've gone so long without a state senator."
Both Tunney and Greene hail from Saginaw County. According to Lorenz, this could cause a spike in voting within the county.
"If you're going to have a high turnout expectation this is where it's also going to happen," Lorenz said. "Both campaigns have been targeting the Saginaw County jurisdictions that are in the district. It's kind of their core base, if you will."
While early in-person voting was made mandatory for Michigan statewide elections in 2024, county clerks are able to decide whether to hold them for local elections.
Only Saginaw County will hold early in-person elections for the May 5th ballot. Residents of Midland and Bay counties will be able to submit absentee ballots or go to the poll on the day of the election.
People can find their polling location on the Secretary of State website.
