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    <title>2026 Special Election History</title>
    <link>https://www.wcmu.org/tags/2026-special-election-history</link>
    <description>2026 Special Election History</description>
    <language>en-US</language>
    <copyright>Copyright</copyright>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:42:53 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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      <title>Governor's attorneys argue court can't force her to call special election</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-08-29/governors-attorneys-argue-court-cant-force-her-to-call-special-election</link>
      <description>The state senate seat representing more than a quarter million Michiganders has been empty since January. Governor Whitmer has said she plans to call a special election, but to date she hasn't.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:42:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-08-29/governors-attorneys-argue-court-cant-force-her-to-call-special-election</guid>
      <dc:creator>Steve Carmody</dc:creator>
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      <title>Judge gives Whitmer 10 days to respond to lawsuit seeking special election in vacant Senate district</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-08-12/lawsuit-seeks-to-compel-whitmer-for-special-election-in-35th-senate-district</link>
      <description>A lawsuit has been filed to pressure Governor Gretchen Whitmer to call a special election for an open state Senate seat.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 02:45:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-08-12/lawsuit-seeks-to-compel-whitmer-for-special-election-in-35th-senate-district</guid>
      <dc:creator>Rick Brewer, Steve Carmody | Michigan Public</dc:creator>
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      <title>Nessel says Whitmer should call special election to fill Tri-Cities' open seat in Lansing</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-06-16/nessel-says-whitmer-should-call-special-election-to-fill-tri-cities-open-seat-in-lansing</link>
      <description>The 35th state Senate district has been vacant since the beginning of the year. A special election could shift the balance of power in the chamber, with Democrats only holding a one-seat majority.</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:22:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-06-16/nessel-says-whitmer-should-call-special-election-to-fill-tri-cities-open-seat-in-lansing</guid>
      <dc:creator>Rick Brewer</dc:creator>
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      <title>Whitmer confirms 35th district special election will happen</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-04-08/whitmer-confirms-35th-district-special-election-will-happen</link>
      <description>Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told WCMU recently that there will be a special election to fill the open 35th District State Senate Seat, which includes representation for Midland, Bay City and Saginaw.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:50:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-04-08/whitmer-confirms-35th-district-special-election-will-happen</guid>
      <dc:creator>Alvin (AJ) Jones</dc:creator>
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      <title>Still unclear when Whitmer will call state Senate special election</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-03-11/still-unclear-when-whitmer-will-call-state-senate-special-election</link>
      <description>"The governor has a lot of leeway and control over calling the election itself," Reporter AJ Jones told WCMU's All Things Considered host David Nicholas. "The constitution says the governor 'may call a special election.'”</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:17:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-03-11/still-unclear-when-whitmer-will-call-state-senate-special-election</guid>
      <dc:creator>Alvin (AJ) Jones, David Nicholas</dc:creator>
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      <title>Exchange between Whitmer staffer and resident renews calls for special election</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-03-06/exchange-between-whitmer-staffer-and-resident-renews-calls-for-special-election</link>
      <description>Republicans in the Michigan statehouse have renewed calls for a special election in the 35th senate district following a comment by a Gov. Gretchen Whitmer staffer at a public meeting in Saginaw.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2025 23:36:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-03-06/exchange-between-whitmer-staffer-and-resident-renews-calls-for-special-election</guid>
      <dc:creator>Alvin (AJ) Jones</dc:creator>
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      <title>‘Let them vote’: GOP state lawmakers, protesters call for special election</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-02-27/let-them-vote-gop-state-lawmakers-protesters-call-for-special-election</link>
      <description>Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says her legal is still trying to determine when they will call a special election in state Senate district 35, which represents the cities of Midland, Bay City and Saginaw. It's been vacant since Jan. 3 after Kristen McDonald Rivet was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:44:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-02-27/let-them-vote-gop-state-lawmakers-protesters-call-for-special-election</guid>
      <dc:creator>Alvin (AJ) Jones</dc:creator>
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      <title>Tri-Cities business leaders call on Whitmer to begin special election</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-01-28/tri-cities-business-leaders-call-on-whitmer-to-begin-special-election</link>
      <description>The heads of multiple chambers of commerce say they want representation in the state Senate as lawmakers debate legislation related to the minimum wage and paid sick leave. U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) resigned from the state Senate nearly a month ago.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 23:19:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-01-28/tri-cities-business-leaders-call-on-whitmer-to-begin-special-election</guid>
      <dc:creator>Alvin (AJ) Jones</dc:creator>
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      <title>McDonald Rivet resigns from state Senate, looks ahead to Congress</title>
      <link>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-01-03/mcdonald-rivet-resigns-from-state-senate-looks-ahead-to-congress</link>
      <description>State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) officially resigned from the legislature Friday to take her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She will represent Flint and the Tri-Cities in Washington.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 23:09:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wcmu.org/local-regional-news/2025-01-03/mcdonald-rivet-resigns-from-state-senate-looks-ahead-to-congress</guid>
      <dc:creator>Alvin (AJ) Jones</dc:creator>
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